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Library of Congress. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



Chap. _ _E._tL_w.'2i*.. 
Shelf.. .J.^^A^~A 



Edwin Howard Brigham. 

HIS BOOK. 



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JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 



JOURNAL 



OF 



LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS, 



APRIL 1 TO JULY 29, 



1776. 



EDITED BY 

EDWAKD BANGS. 



CAMBRIDGE : 

JOHN WILSON AND SON. 

Saniijersttg l|3rcss. 

1890. 






.■5^ 

i>^' 









PREFACE. 



I HAVE had an edition of one hundred copies of this jour- 
nal of my great-uncle printed, not so much because it has 
any particular historical value as because it gives a rather 
quaint picture of the social life of the time, and shows, at 
first hand, something of the feelings that actuated the con- 
duct of the young patriots of that day, — feelings which, with 
regard to the poor, persecuted Tories, seem now rather exag 
gerated, — while, as to " the man George," we, whose mas- 
ters chastise us with scorpions, incline to look back upon his 
feeble whip with a sad sense of regret, and to be not a little 
amused at the way in which our ancestors worked themselves 
up into complaining so loudly and so bitterly of impositions, 
trifling indeed compared to those to which we submit in meek 
silence. 

Of the writer of the journal I am not able to give much 
information, though I have sought for it diligently. 

Isaac *^ Bangs (Benjamin^, Edward ^ Edward 3, Jonathan 2, 
Edward^) was born at Harwich in Massachusetts on the 11th 
of December, 1752. He was the second son of Benjamin^ 
and Desire (Dillingham) Bangs. He descended, on the fa- 
ther's side, from Edward Banges, who came to Plymouth in 
the " Ann " in July, 1623 ; and on the mother's side, from 
Edward Dillingham, of Bitteswell, England, who was, in 
1637, of Sandwich, in Massachusetts. 

In the Diary of Lieut. Isaac's father, Benjamin ^ may be 
found an occasional mention of his name ; as, for instance, — 



4 PREFACE. 

"1764, April 21*1^ On the 17'!^ Day Instant my Isaac, John 
Dillingham, and Sam^ Nye began Schooling at Mr. Dunster's, at 
£3:6:8 each per Year." 

The reverend gentleman was certainly not too higWy 
paid ; but he managed to get two of his three pupils — Isaac 
Bangs and Samuel Nye —into Harvard College. They took 
their degrees in 1771. This class was the last but one in 
which the names were arranged, in the Triennial, in the or- 
der of social position or family rank. (See 8 Mass. Hist. Soc. 
Proc, pp. 32-37, for Mr. Sibley's account of that custom ; 
and 9 Mass. Hist. Soc. Proc, p. 252, for the case of Samuel 
Phillips, of this very class of 1771, who, being aggrieved at 
his rating, got himself, by solemn vote, put seventh " be- 
tween Vassall and Murray," interesting because of the im- 
mense importance evidently attached to it by his father.) 

Isaac Bangs stands twenty-eighth in a class of sixty-three, 
a very large class for those days, — the largest, in fact, that 
up to that time had ever graduated ; nor did another so large 
graduate until 1810. 

If the increased size of the classes at Harvard College be, 
as it seems that it must be, an indication of general prosperity, 
the period just before the breaking out of the Revolutionary 
War must have been a remarkably prosperous one, contrary 
although that theory be to the common belief. It was per- 
haps because Jeshurun had waxed fat that he kicked. 

I have had the curiosity to look for the Loyalists of the 
class of 1771 in Sabine, and have found but four. They 
were among the highest in social position, being 

Samuel Hirst Sparhawk . . . . P' in order. 

Samuel Paine 4 > " 

William Vassall 6 " 

Daniel Murray 8 " 



PREFACE. 



Isaac Bangs studied medicine after graduating, and had 
begun to practise liis profession in his native town when the 
War of the Revolution broke out ; and he joined the Conti- 
nental Army as a Lieutenant in Colonel Gary's regiment on 
the 30th of January, 1776. 

I find him mentioned in the Revolutionary Rolls at the 
State House as a Second Lieutenant in Colonel Cary's regi- 
ment, vol. xii. p. 65 ; vol. xxviii. p. 127. 
In vol. xxxvii. p. 3 : — 

"An Arrangement of the several military Company s in the 
Second Regiment of Militia in the County of Barnstable. 
3'^. is the 1'' Company in Harwich, 
Benjamin Berry, Captain, 
Nath. Freeman, 1'.' Lieut. 
Isaac Bangs, 2'^ Lieut." 
Endorsed, 

" In Council, Ap. 20. 1776. Read and ordered that the within 
mentioned Officers be commissionated according to their respective 

ranks. 

(Signed) John Lowell, JDepi Sed'' 

In vol. xxviii. p. 109, Isaac Bangs again appears as Second 
Lieutenant in the Second Regiment, April 20, 1776. 

I find no further mention of him in the Army Rolls ; but 
in the Naval Rolls, to which my attention was directed by 
my friend, the Hon. Josiah Paine, of Harwich, in vol. lii. 
p. 81 (Roll of the United States Frigate " Boston," Capt. 
Samuel Tucker) : — 

" N° 27. Isaac Bangs. Date of entry, March 8*, 1779. Doc- 
tor's Mate." 

This is the last trace I can find of him living. In the 
Family Record of the late Edward Dillingham Bangs is the 
following entry : — 



6 PREFACE. 

''■Isaac Barigs.hoYW Dec. 11, 1752, died Sept. 12, 1780, im- 
niarried. He was a Surgeon in the Revolutionary Army, and died 
while in service." 

His father had died some years before the Journal begins 
(Oct. 31, 1769). 

His mother, who is sometimes referred to in it, lived until 
1807. 

The old house in which he liad lived with his mother was 
standing in that part of Harwich incorporated in 1803 as 
Brewster until 1872, when the parish, to which it had been 
given by Benjamin ^ Bangs for a parsonage, pulled it down. 

In that house the manuscript of this Journal was preserved 
until it was given to the editor, thirty or forty years ago. 
It has been copied by him verbatim et literatim, with all 
fidelity. 

Boston, July, 1890. 



JOURNAL 



LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 



No. I. — Minutes of a Journal by Isaac Bangs ; hegim 
April 1, 1776. 

HAVING been in the Service of the united Colonies as 
a Lien* in Capt. Benjamin Godfrey's Company in 
Col" Carys Regiment of Militia for about 2 months, in 
which many glorious Achievements were performed and 
great Glory added to the Arms of the Americans by the 
Expulsion of the Ministerial Army from their Strong Holds in 
Boston, in which, according to my Station, I did my propor- 
tion of the fatigueing Duty which was requisite to perform 
the Manoeuver which has brought an eternal shame and 
Disgrace upon the British Arms, I was fired with an ardent 
Zeal to be farther instrumental in the glorious Cause in 
which America is now engaged. With this View I entered 
Col" John Bailey's Regiment as a Lieut to Cap* Jacob Allen. 
In some future Time it may perhaps afford Pleasure to recol- 
lect past Toils ; and being sensible of the Treachery of my 
Memory in recollecting past Events, I think it advisable to 
keep a few Minutes to assist a bad Memory (made worse by 
the Combustion of an Army) in bringing to Mind past Events, 
But before I enter upon this I must give a short detail of the 
Inducements that first brought me to the Army, & of some 



8 JOUENAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

of the material Events and Circumstances which happened 
during my continuance in Col" Cary's Regiment. The Min- 
isterial Army had for a long time (Viz., ever since the Battle 
of Lexington, on the 19^^ of April, 1775) been invested by 
the American Army, which kept them closely confined to 
their Quarters in Boston, during which Time many and 
Various Manoeuvers were practised on both sides to annoy 
their Enemies, the Circumstances of which it is not my 
Design to relate. 

In the begin^ of January, 1775, it was thought best, if 
possible, to drive them from their Fortresses ; & as the 
Lines of our Army were from necessity of a vast extent, & as 
it was of infinite Importance that each part should be well 
maintained. General Wasliington thought the American 
Army not sufficient to maintain the Lines, and at the same 
time to act offensively upon the Enemy. He applied to the 
Colonies of New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts 
Bay for a part of the Militia of each Province. The Propor- 
tion required & voted by the Assembly of this Province was 
4,368 Men. Among these I inlisted about 30 of Jan. ; and 
according to the Inlisting Orders we proceeded to chuse our 
Officers, and proceeded to Head Quarters. The Men which 
constituted our Company were chiefly from the Town of 
Chatham, — a very civil Set of People, with whom I lived very 
Quietly. On our arrival at Roxbury we found (by the Negli- 
gence of the Barrack Master) that no Barracks were pro- 
vided for the Melitia. Our Company turned in at Roxbury 
Street for about 4 days, in old Houses & Cellars ; but as we 
could no longer stand it thus Barracked, & finding no Con- 
fidence could be put in their Promises for better Barracks, 
we made complaint to our Colonels, and were by the Quarter 
Master provided for in Houses in Dorchester, about 4 Miles 
Distance, where we continued 9 Days ; during which Time 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 9 

great Preparations were making for some new Enterprize, 
such as Fashienes, Gaboreenes, Barracks ready Framed, & 
boards cut. All immagined that Dorchester Hill was the Object ^ 
of our Attention. This Hill is Situate South from Boston 
about a Mile & an Half, and by Nature seemed formed for 
the Command of Boston ; & not only so, but it commanded 
a place called Nook Point, about Half way from that place to 
Boston, — a most convenient place for either Bombarding or 
Cannonading the Town of Boston. Our Enemies had been 
long determined to take possession of these Places, as they 
not only prevent our taking them, but would also be an ad- 
vantageous Scituation for a Part of their Army. The deep y 
Frost prevented our proceeding till the Evening of the 4 of 
March, when about 21 Hundred men from Gen'* Spencer's & 
Thomas Brigades (which were both stationed at Roxbury), 
all things being prepared & previously conveyed to the 
Causeway that leads to the Neck on which the Hill stands, 
proceeded at about 8 o'clock in the Evening to work upon 
the Hills, and were relieved at 3 the next Morning by the 
rest part of our two Brigades, consisting of about 25 Hun- 
dred, besides 500 Rifle Men from Cambridge & Roxbury. 
But here I must not leave unnoticed a grand piece of Gen- 
eralship which preceded our going upon the Hills. On the 
Evening of the 2 of March the General (knowing all things 
were nearly prepared for the Work) gave Orders for begin- 
ing a Cannonading & Bombardment of the Town, in order to 
divert the Enemy that they need not be mistrustfull o^ our 
Scheeme, as they would possibly if they had notice of our pro- 
ceedings either annoy us while working with their Cannon 
or perhaps might come out with their Army before the Work 
was finished. The Cannonading & Bombarding began from 
Prospect Hill about 12 o'clock in the Night of the 2 of 
March, as also from Leechmore's Point, from the Fortress on 



10 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

Cobble Hill, & from the Lines at Roxbury ; the enemy Re- 
turned the Compliment to the Former Places, but as they 
had previously removed their Cannon (as we afterwards 
immagin'd) from their Lines on the Neck, they were not so 
Complaisant to us at Roxbury. I must also here observe that 
the day before this tlie General ordered all the Forces that 
for conveniency were stationed back to be removed down to 
the Lines as nigh as possible, and that in consequence of this 
our Company was that day removed and Barracked in one of 
the Out Houses of what is called the Hutchinson House, 
near the Line that separateth Roxbury from Dorchester. A 
Room was provided for the Officers near by, and we thaught 
ourselves happy in being so well provided for in such a 
Croud of both officers and men. In the Even^ of the 3*^ the 
rout began again, and we at Roxbury found that they were 
not so neglectfull of us as on the night before. 

In the Evening of the 4*^^, as I before mentioned, our Men 
went upon the Hill to work, upon which a more Furious Fire 
was began than ever, and returned by the Enemy with eaqual 
Vigour, chiefly upon Roxbury, not mistrusting our People 
upon the Hill, tliough it was a very Light Moonshine Even- 
ing. 23 Men from our Company went this Evening, and I 
had a warrant to parrade at 3 in the Morning to go with the 
Relief. Being anxious to see the Proceedings on both sides, 
I went to a small Battery of ours a little out of the Direc- 
tion of their Shot and Bombs, where I tarried about two 
Hours, & thaught myself Safe ; for as the aforesaid Batteiy 
was made no use of by us they took no Notice of it, but it 
being something nigh the Range of our Right Hand Fort, 
their Shot which were aimed at that fort passed about 200 
yards to the Westward of me, here I could see 4 & some- 
times 5 of their Boms flying in the Air at a Time, aimed at the 
Right Hand Fort that they fell about |^ of a Mile distance. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 11 

At Length a Shot which fell near the Fort by its fall took a 
different direction and came immediately where I was stand- 
ing ; it hopped after its first Falling about 4 times, & if it 
had hoped again before it broke, as its Velocity was diminish- 
ing, it would have come, as near as I can judge, to the very 
Spot where I was ; it broke about 25 Yard Distance, and 
one of the Pieces came with great rapidity about 2 Yards 
above my Head. The Fire still continued ; but at about 3, 
when the Relieves of every Regiment to parade, God so 
ordered it that their Fire was a little abated, or in all 
probability the}^ must have killed more of us, — one Lieut. 
Mayo being the only Man hurt ; he had his thigh Shot off, of 
which he died the next Day. Upon our arrival upon the 
Hills (for we took possession of 2 by building Forts), I was 
prodigiously surprised to find the Vast works that had been 
carried on in so little Time. We relieved them, and they got 
off" without being discovered by the Enemy, which was no 
small Favour both in our coming on & their going off, as the 
Causeway over which we had to pass was greatly exposed to 
their Fire from their Works on the Neck. When the Enemy 
discovered us in ye Morning they ceased firing upon Roxbury, 
and must be much shagriened to find they had fired so in- 
tently upon Roxbury when the Men were as they thought 
mostly on the Hills. 

We expected a Salute immediately from their Ships in the 
Harbour as also from their Works, and they must have 
greatly annoyed us had they fired when our Forts were thus 
weak, being then little besides Fashiens about 6 Feet thick. 
However this was not their disign. They fired a few Shot 
upon us as we were seting the Fatigue Partys, and brok 6 or 
8 small arms in our Rigiment ; but as their Balls struck 
chiefly before they reached us, we could avoid them. The 
Enemy Imbarqued on Board Transports about 11 o'clock, 

2 



12 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

and were to have landed (as we after found) upon the Point 
under cover of the Shiping & of the Castle the next Night ; 
why they had not done it that Day, if ever they intended it, 
God only knows. For my part, I should have been willing to 
have receiv'' them either by night or Day, as we had a tolerable 
cover from Musquetry, and as to their Field Pieces they 
could not have brought them to bear because of the Sciatu- 
ation of the ground. Had they been so rash they would in 
all probability have found the 5-^ of March, 1776, more 
Bloody on their Side than Preston made the same Day in 
1770 ^ on ours. In fine, I cant think it was ever their design 
more than to make a Parade. But they have a good excuse, 
, for about 11 at night the most violent Storm of Wind & Rain 
J mixed with Snow & Hail arose that ever I was exposed to. 
Having nothing to cover us excepting Apple Trees, wee stood 
it out till about 5 in the Morning, when wee were reliev'^. 
What I suffered this night I shall ever bear in mind, there- 
fore need not here mention it. Had the enemy have been so 
foolish as to have attacked us upon the Hills, our People to 
the amount of about 5,000 Men stood by their Boats at Cam- 
bridge and were to have made a descent upon Boston, which 
they must have easily carried, as I since learn that Genl How 
at the Head of the Remainder of his Troops was to have made 
an attack upon our Lines at Roxbury. Had this been the 
Case, what a woefull Scituation must he have been in, even 
if he had forced the Lines with our Forces on each Side ! 

When the Forts were a little finished our People began to 
make preparations for Nooke Point, before mentioned, by 
carting Fashienes, &c., in the Face of the Day as nigh the 
^ Place as the Scituation would allow (there being a Mire be- 
tweene that & the Forts). This place is about | Mile dis- 
tant from the Centre of the Town, and as convenient a place 

1 The Boston Massacre. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 13 

as could even have been wished for from which to through 
Bombs to the Town. The Enemy, discovring our Motions 
by this imprudent Step, concluded that we should be at work 
that Night, therefore the began a most Heavy Fire from the 
Shipping in the Harbour, from several of the Wharves, & 
from several Batteries ; such a Firing was never before heard 
in New England. They kill"^ 4 Men with one Ball, which 
was all the Dammage they did us ; and the next morning we / 
picked up 700 Balls that they had fired upon us. The next 
night being the IT*"" of March, all things being in Readiness, 
we erected a small Breast Work on the aforesaid Point with- 
out being discover** by the Enemy till Day Light next Morn- 
ing, when they began a most severe canonading from their 
Works upon the Neck ; but being unable to affect any thing 
to our Damage, they made a Most precipitate retreat, leaving 
the chief of the Effects of the Inhabitants unhurt, tho they 
Dammaged many Houses and much furniture. They left 
behind them three excellent Mortars, many Bombs, and about 
200 Cannon, the most of which were heavy Pieces all spiked 
up, and about 100 of them having their Trunnions broke of. 
Thus was the British Army routed from a Fortress which 
they were sufferred peaceably to build, of the Strength of 
which they used to make such boastings ; and also from the 
Bunker Hill, which cost them at least the Lives of 1,800 
Men, besides the vast Labour & Expense they had bestowed 
to erect & defend it. 

Immediately upon their Retreat we entered the Town with 
part of the Forces from Roxbury by Land & some consider- 
able Force from Cambridge by Water. We found the Works 
upon the Neck entire, the Cannon spiked up & the Shells y 
chiefly split, & many of the Cannon Carriages cut to pieces. 
These Lines upon the Neck were handsomely built & so 
amazingly strong that it would have been impracticable for 



14 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

US to have forced them. The other Works were not so well 
constructed as I immagined wee should have found them ; 
especially at the Bottom of the Common & on Beacon Hill 
they appeared to be ill constructed & design'dfor little but 
to frighten us. The Enemy embarqued in boats & joined the 
Fleet, which had chiefly quited the Harbour, & fell down to 
Nantascet from our first building upon the Hills, some few of 
the Men of War & Transports for the Tories only excepted, 
who remained to cover the Town. The Admiral finding we 
had built upon Nook Point & another small Hill, both of 
which were advantageously scituated to rake the Harbour, 
thought he could with no degree of Safety tarry any longer ; 
wherefore he sent to General Howe acquainting him that he 
was about to quit the Harbour. This, it is said, hastened the 
General's Retreat, or he would probably have taken his artil- 
ery with him. They left no Powder behind them, but we 
could plainly see where they burnt vast Quantities of that 
valuable article ; could they have affected the Destruction of 
their Artilery with as much dispatch, no doubt they would 
have done it. Quere, Whether it would not be wisdom in 
the Parliament of England to offer a large Premium to the 
Person that shall contrive a method to annihilate Cannon, 
Mortars, Bombs, &c., in a Short space of Time ; otherwise the 
Rebels will soon furnish themselves with a Stock of these 
articles without being put to the Trouble of making them 
Themselves. 

The Inhabitants that were friendly to America still con- 
tinued in Boston, except Mr. James Lovell, whom they car- 
ried of with their other Prisoners. He bore his Fate, & 
attended the Summons that called him as a Prisoner to quit 
his native Land & all that was dear to him with that Courage 
& Resignation which only attend the Virtuous, Wise, & 
Brave. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 15 

No. II. — Memorandum Continued. 

Nor is it doubted, if wee may Judge from the outxvard ap- 
pearance of Persons, but that Mr. Lovell (tho in the Capacity 
of a Prisoner) embarqued with less reluctance than those 
Miscreants whose complicated offences against the Liberties 
of their Country denied them the Boon of continueing any 
longer as Freemen in this Land of Liberty ; wherefore since 
by their Behaviour they had forfeited all right to Freedom, 
& were driven to the Alternitude of Slavery in this or in a 
foreign Land, they chose rather to imbarque and be in Servi- 
tude with other Slaves than to continue in their native Country 
& Suffer the just resentment of their injured Brethren. 

Many of these obnoxious animals (tho none of the most 
obnoxious) chose to tarry & rely upon the Mercy of their 
offended Countrymen than to hazard their Lives with the 
Fleet <fe Army, who were Miserably stocked with Provisions, 
— having nothing of Animal Food left but salt Meat, & that 
in so small a Quantity that their common allowance would 
consume it all in less than three Weeks ; this account I had 
from a Friend of mine who tarried in Boston during the whole 
siege, who was well acquainted with their Scituation, <fe on 
whose veracity I think I can safely rely. In this miserable 
Scituation they left the Town & hauled of to Nantascet, 
where I shall, for the present, leave them. These Tories 
which remained were soon apprehended, & what fate they 
will receive at the hands of their injured Countrymen (for I 
can't call them Brethren) may be left by me undetermin'd 
as yet. 

The Fatiegues & Hardships that were underwent by that 
part of the Army which were Stationed at Roxbury from the 
time of our first building upon the Hill, tho not eaqual to the 
Hardships which many of this Profession have endured, yet 



16 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

I think I may safely pronounce them hard. When we first 
arrived upon the Hills, as I before observed, we had no cover 
from thfe Weather but Apple Trees (a miserable Shelter from 
Storms & March Winds) ; for the Regulars had previously 
set fire to almost all the Houses & Barns on the Neck, — 
two Barns & three small Houses only being left, & of these 
only the Barns were so situated as to afford shelter for the 
Army of 25 Hundred Men, or thereabouts, because of their 
Distance from the Works we were building. Therefore no 
particular Regiments could be stationed there, & it was ab- 
solutely necessary to l?:eep at least that Number of Men con- 
stantly upon the Hills, & these must be drawn from those at 
Roxbury. This Party together with the Guards at Roxbury 
kept half of our Men on duty constantly, & maijy being 
taken ill about that time, some with what we termed the Hill 
Fever & others with real Sickness, many Men were obliged 
to be on Duty two Days & Nights successively. Moreover, 
because of the dangerous Scituation of the Causeway, we 
were obliged to go on to relieve the Parties on the Hills in 
the Night at 3 o'clock ; this made it more fatiegueing, being 
in this manner broke of our Rest each Night. 

Being myself unwell upon our first entering upon the 
Hills, I was unable to do but three Tours of Duty in this 
Manner, and had entered upon the fourth when I was so un- 
well that with much difficulty with the assistance of an able 
Bodied Man I got of from the Hills. I continued 2 Days in 
my Chamber and then walked out, but the Blody Flux 
raged so hard upon me & nothing suitable for my Diet being 
to be bought, it was thought best for me to go into the Coun- 
try, whereupon I went to Concord & tarried several Days ; 
but being unwilling to tarry any longer out of Camp than what 
was absolutely necessary, I returned about 3 Days before the 
enemy evacuated Boston. Being still unfit for Duty, never- 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 17 

theless I undertook another Tour, seeing Duty had been so 
hard for the other Officers, — many of them by this Time 
being unwell & unfit for Duty. On the 24 of March, the 
enemy being gone down to Nantascet & it being thought best 
to have some steady forces upon the Hills, Col? Learneard's 
& Col'' Cary's Regiments were both of them ordered upon the 
Hills. To the latter I belonged, & we moved on expecting 
to have found Barracks provided ; but when we arrived we 
found that the Barracks provided for our Reg* were not 
above half sufficient to contain them, neither were there 
Chimneys in any of them. Our being huddled in this manner 
with such accommodations upon the Hills was owing to the 
unfaithfullness of the Barrack Master, who had returned to 
the Gen! that a sufficiency of Barracks were finished to re- 
ceive us. Yet in this Scituation, half killed with smoke, we 
found our Duty easier than when we lived at Roxbury & 
did Duty upon the Hills. Many of our People were sick, for 
whom a convenient House was provided at Roxbury ; among 
these two only were very Dangerous, viz., Elisha Doane <fe 
Joseph Philips. Doane, after having been extreme low and 
weak, being several times looked upon as a dying Man, re- 
covered so far that on my coming from Roxbury on the sec- 
ond of April he was able to sit up and in a likely way of 
recovery. But as to Philips, who was taken with a Pleurisy 
which afterwards turned to a Malignant Putrid Fever, God 
in his providence saw fit to take him to himself, as we trust, 
on the 30-'' of March. The next Day he was decently inter'd. 
On the 18-^ of March, the Enemy still keeping Possession 
of Castle William, I mounted the guard upon the Point 
near the Castle at not more than |^ of a Mile Distance ; 
the night being very calm & my Duty calling me to visit the 
Centuries, I could hear them busiely employed, as I then 
supposed, in spiking up the Cannon & breaking of the Trun- 



18 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

nions. This work they continued till the next day, 19^, 
when about 3 o'clock they began to blow up the Fortifica- 
tions. This lasted till about sunset, when they set the Block 
House on the South Poin on Fire. Our Guard were now ex- 
pecting to be relieved & were paraded to receive the relief; 
but the relief being detained, we were desirous to see the fire, 
& retired to a Hill about 10 Rods distance North from the 
Guard House, where we might have a full View. The En- 
emy, perceiving us upon the Hill within point Blank Shot of 
their Cannon, fired three 24 lb. Shot at us, neither of which 
went more than 2 yards above our Heads. The first & second 
would unavoidably have killed some of the men had they 
not have fell upon discovering the Flashes of their Guns ; as 
it was, several of our Men by the Wind of the Balls were 
almost stuned. Neither of the Balls came nearer to me than 
10 Yards Distance, tho I stood upon the Top of the Hill & 
never removed till after their fire was over. The other 
Men were in more danger after the first Shot ; for the Enemy, 
knowing they would repair to the Guard House, had placed 
their Cannon so as to take them on their runing from the 
Hill. Tho horribly frightned by the whistling of the Balls, 
I considered this, and was the only Man that stood the 
Ground. 

The next day, 20"\ they continued demolishing the Works 
of the Castle, and in the Evening set all the Combustible 
part of it on Fire, and left it the same Night. I myself went 
on the next Day to ^ee the Havock and Destruction they had 
made, the which surpass all discription & of which no man 
could have any tolerable Idea unless himself was made a 
Spectator ; that once beautifull Fortress was now nothing 
more than a confused heap of Rubbish. The Enemy left the 
y chief part of their Cannon, all of which (excepting three 
18 lb. ers which were left entire) had either a Trunnion beat 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 19 

of or the Breechings broke of and all spiked up. We dug 
up several of their Boxes of powder, which were designed to 
blow up part of the Walls, but had not taken Fire. 

The Enemies Fleet, which I left at Nantascet, remained 
there till Wednesday, 27 of March, when about half of their 
Number, consisting chiefly of Transports with a Few Convoys 
of Men of war, set sail & stood out to sea ; the remaining 
Ships, excepting 4 Men of war (which they left at Nan- 
tascet), followed them the next Saturday. 

The Fleet lying so long below made many People mis- 
trustfull that their design was to reland in some part of the 
Harbour ; therefore we kept strong Guards in every exposed 
part thereof. But it afterwards appeared that their long de- 
lay was occasioned by the Confusion and Hurry in which 
they quitted the Town, not having any time either to rig the 
Vessels or distribute the Provisions among the Vessels. 
Those which sailed first were said to contain the Families of 
the Tories which they shipped of for Halifax as soon as they 
could get them ready. 

After the first part of the Fleet sailed, the other part was 
reinforced by several large Ships of war, but from whence 
they came I could never learn. 

One of the Fleet having a valuable cargo of Stolen goods 
together with a number of Tories was cast away soon after 
on Cape Cod, & another whose Cargo was estimated at 
35,000X sterling was taken by Capt. Merry ; what became 
of the others time will discover. 

While the Fleet was lying at Nantascet, our People fixed 
several Fire Engines, which would undoubtedly have con- 
sumed some of their Fleet, but the Wind proving unfavour- 
able detered us from putting our design in execution. 

The Enemy having thus evacuated Boston & chiefly left 
the Harbour, the Army, excepting a few Regiments, were 

3 



20 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

order'd to the Southward, as it was expected the Enemy were 
gone to the Southern Colonies. At least there was great 
danger of it ; and as New York (I suppose) was thought to 
be the Center of the Colonies, they were ordered for that 
place. Many Regiments had already marched (& by ac- 
counts from them they had arrived at N. York) before the 
Fleet left Boston ; the others, as I before mentioned, had or- 
ders to follow. Genl Green's Brigade, consisting of 5 Regi- 
ments — Viz., Col'^^ Varnum, Hitchcock, Little, Reed, & 
Bailey — had orders to March on Monday, the 1 of April, to 
New London by the Way of Norwich ; but in the Night before 
their March Expresses came from Newport that the Enemy 
were seen of that Port, & that it was expected that they 
were about to land. This occasioned counter Orders for 
them to take Providence in their Way. I myself had to 
the First of April acted in the Regiment to which I belonged. 
Viz., in Col'^ Cary's Reg* of Militia ; but their time being 
expired, and having in the Evening before an Invitation to 
take the Place of one Lieu' Shaw of Col° Baileys Reg*, & 
having a desire to be farther instrumental in so glorious a 
Cause, & finding my acceptance of the office would be agree- 
able to the officers, I readily agreed to it, & Lieut. Col"* 
Jacobs went the next morning to Cambridge for the Generals 
approbation, which if I could obtain I was to follow the Reg*. 
We found the Gen! very busie in wrighting dispatches, &c., 
that he could not attend to Buisness of such small Conse- 
quence ; but upon Ag* Gen! Gates Promise of my having a 
Commission if I would follow the Army, I concluded to do it 
if I had the advice of Col" Baily. I therefore return'd & 
asked Col" Baily, who advised me if I had an inclination, to 
go, & said he made no doubt but that I should be as well 
used as if Time had permitted the Gen! to have given me a 
Commission. I therefore concluded to follow tlie next Morn- 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 21 

ing, & to spend the Evening in wrigbting to acquaint my 
Friends of my New undertaking, which I accordingly did; 
& the next morning the 2^ of April set out to overtake the 
Reg*, which I aifected that after Noon. I found Cap* Allen to 
whose Company I belonged to be a very agreable Com- 
panion, & his Company a Civil Set of People. As I was 
entirely unacquainted with any Person in the Company, I 
had previously enquired of my Friends as to their Characters 
before I engaged to serve, & found that the Cap* & his other 
officers had the character of civil & agreable Gentlemen, & 
upon my further acquaintance with them I found their Good 
Characters to surpass my expectations. 4^ of April we 
arrived at Providence ; the Roads being bad and the Rainy 
Weather prevented our arriving sooner. Nothing very 
material happened during our March. On the road I saw 
Mrs. Atwood and Miss R. Sears, and Breakfasted with them 
at Mr. Atwoods House in ... . 

I found the Town of Providence very agreably scituated on 
each side of a River. Several very elegant Buildings ; in 
perticular the Baptist Meeting House & the College, a little 
east of the Town. We tarried here but one Night, & the next 
Day sat out for Norwich in Connecticut. 

At Providence I saw building two neat Frigates . . . 
[^Here a page is gone^ 
. . . fellow had hired to take care of his Farm, coincided 
very well in each other's Opinions, & I believe no part of 
the old Mans Estate suffered for the want of Cultivation. 

9th_ ^Q marched to New London, about 15 Miles South 
from Norwich. This Town in no wise answered to the Con- 
ceptions I had of its Magnitude or Grandeur ; however, it is 
pleasantly scituated on the West side of the River Thames. 
On the opposite side is a handsome Village or Town called 
Groton. The River makes an excellent Harbour. Here we 



22 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

found Admiral Hopkins with part of the American Fleet, 
which had arrived two days before. They had sail'd from 
Philadelphia to . . ., where they took possession of the 
King's Forts, and brought of all the Artilery, consisting of 
a great Quantity of Cannon, Bombs, Mortars, Shot, &c. 
The Powder the Enemy privatel}^ conveyed off on see- 
ing that our People were determined to take Possession. 
They also took in the West Indies several Vessels richly 
laden, the Property of the English Merchants in England. 
On their Return home they came across the Glasgo, Ship 
of War, off Block Island, with several other Tenders, 
a Bomb Brig, &c. A Brig commanded by the Admirals 
Son first engaged the Glasgo ; and tho' the Glasgo was much 
superiour, yet he fought with courage for 3 Glasses when 
the Admiral came to relieve his Son, who was much shattered 
& wanted time to refit. The Glasgo & the Admirals ship 
Alfred had a Warm Engagement ; but just as the Brig was 
coming up again, having refited, the Alfred received an un- 
lucky shot which carried away the Tiller Ropes, & they could 
not manage her to get up with the Glasgo again. Cap* Hop- 
kins, however, engaged her warmly again with his Brig; but 
as the Glasgo from the beginning made a runing fight of it, 
the other Ships were unable (being loaded) to get up with 
her till she had got nigh to New Port, when the Admiral, 
expecting a superiour force, would soon come out against 
him, gave a signal for quiting the chase. During this 
Engagement Cap* Whipple, who commanded the Columbus 
of 36 Guns, kept at a distance, & never came up to the 
Assistance of the Alfred & t^he Brig, but kept his distance. 
Most People say that had he given chase he might have 
taken the Glasgo, as he was noways shattered & might have 
come up with her ; others say he could not on account of 
the Wind ; how that is will be determined. During the 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 23 

Engagement they took a Bomb Brig with 8 Carriage Guns & 
2 Howitzers, &c., also a Schooner commanded by one Wal- 
lace mounting 6 Carriage Guns, &; brought them in. By all 
accounts the Glasgo fought well & was much shattered, as 
were also the Alfred & the Brig, on board of which about 
10 Men were killed & the Brig's Cap', with others 
wounded. 

April 14*5. The Wind not being favourable before this 
Day, we set Sail with a Favourable Wind, and got past 
Connecticut River & were obliged to put back to black 
Point. The Next Day we set sail about 1 o'clock, & the next 
day about 2 o'clock we arrived at Turtle Bay, between Hell 
Gate and New York. Here wee were obliged to tarry till the 
next day at 9 o'clock for Orders. We set sail, & at 10 arrived 
in the Cit}^ of New York, our desired Port, on the 17 of April. 
For about 10 Miles below New York the Passage between 
the Maine & Long Island was very Narrow. On both sides 
many very elegant Country Seats, & at Hell Gate a hand- 
some & well-constructed Fort lately built by our People. At 
Turtle Bay are 4 large «& beautifull Stores made for the Use 
of the King's Stores & A munition, &c. From this Place 
the Yorkers took a very large Quantity of Bombs & Shot ; 
but the Enemy had conveyed the Powder away before. 
Near this Place are several elegant & beautifull Country 
Seats, Several evacuated by the Tories. I visited the Gar- 
den of one Gentleman in which was a Summer House which 
the Gardener shewed me in which were many curious 
Flowers, &c. ; but the greatest Rarity was Orange, Lime, 
Pomgranet, & Citron Trees all Bearing Fruit. The Lemons 
were the largest & best that ever I saw, as also the Oranges, 
both sweet and sour. One Lime tree had 5 different Sorts 
of Fruit growing at once besside Blossoms. 

On our arival we found Houses provided for both Officers 



24 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

& Men. Our Reg* was barracked in Water Street near to 
Pecks Slip, & we had 2 Rooms for the oificers of our Com- 
pany in D. Barkleys on the Same street near our Company. 

19!!l. I spent the greatest part of my Time in viewing 
the City, which I found vastly surpassing my Expecta- 
tions. The City is nearly as populous as the Town of Boston ; 
the Publick Edifices greater in number, yet not in general 
so grand & Magnificent as those of Boston. I found the 
Town, or City, scituated between two Rivers. The one Run- 
ing about North, called the North River, is the same which is 
navigable up as far as Albany, about . . . Miles ; the other 
River is that which seperateth Long Island from the Conti- 
nent, and runs Easterly, one part of which is called Hell 
Gate (very metaphorically so called). In the Town we 
found every street leading from the Water almost stoped 
with Breast Works built by Gen! Lee on his arrival in this 
Town, to prevent the Enemy from landing to set fire to the 
Town. On the South west part of the Town, which is a 
Point between the two Rivers, is a very strong & costly 
Fort built by the Kings Troops & many masons men for 
the Protection of the City from the Enemy. 

On the outside of the Fort at the Edge of the wall was a 
Battery, erected at a vast Expence to the King, built of 
hewn stone, the outside about ten feet high, the inside 
filled up to form a plane that the Wall was not more than 
a foot and a half high. Over this the Cannon were to play ; 
but as so low a wall would not be a sufficient cover for our 
Men, our People were busily employed in making a Turf 
Wall upon the stone Wall, & when we arrived had almost 
finislied as compleat a Battery as ever I saw. Several other 
Fortifications were erected in this Town, which made it tol- 
erably strong & safe against any attacks of the Enemy. 
From the above mentioned Fort a spacious street runing 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 25 

east notherly in a right line, reached without the Town about 
1 Mile. Tn this, near the Fort, is the Equestrian Statue of 
King George 3'\ a Present from himself to this City.^ The 
design was in imitation of one of the Roman Emperors on 
Horseback. The Man George is represented about ^ larger 
than a Natural Man ; the Horse, in proportion, both neatly 
constructed of Lead guilt with Gold, raised on a Pedestral 
of white Marble, about 15 Feet high, enclosed with a very 
elegant Fence about 10 feet high, the 2 lower feet Stone, 
the remainder of open worked Iron ; the inclosure was oval, 
containing about | of an acre of beautifull green. This, with 
several Churches and other Elegant buildings on either side 
of the spacious street, form a most beautifull prospect from 
the Fort. Opposite the Town on the south is the Town of 
Brooklinn on Long Island, at about 1 Mile distance. The 
Town of Brooklinn with the adjacent Hills, on which are 
several elegant Country Seats, (20) I visited, and took a full 
view of the Waterworks that are making to convey Water 
through the City (that from the Pumps being very bad & 
unwholesome to that degree that the Inhabitants buy Water 
for Coffee, &c. from Carts that are employed to carry it 
about the City). These Works were began about 12 Months 
since at the City Expence, to defray which they issued Bills 
that are current as other Money. A Dutchman undertook 
the Jobb for a certain sum, & hath already performed the 
most difficult part of the Work, tho not with that success 
that was expected by the Citizens, as they say. He saith he 
hath done as well as he promised. The Work that is already 
done (the most difficult part) is to convey Water from the 
side of an Hill nigh a Pond to the top of the Hill, which 
being higher than any part of the City, the Water is to be 

1 I have since been informed it was bought by the subscription of the Gentle- 
men of this City. — I. B. 



26 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

conveyed in Pipes through the City. As the Man that at- 
tended spoke very broken English & the Machiene was not 
at Work, it was with great Difficulty that I understood the 
Construction of the Machiene ; & to pretend to give a perticu- 
lar discription of this Work would be folly in me, as I could 
by no means do it Justice. The first part of the Work was 
the Well, about 40 feet Diamiter, and to appearance about 
30 feet to the surface of the Water. In this Well was the 
Engine, which forced the Water almost to the Top, & from 
thence through a Wooden Tube up to the Top of the Hill, 
which was about 5 Rods distance and about . . . Feet perpen- 
dicular above the Top of the Well. At the Top of the Hill 
was an artificial Pound, whose superficies was about | of an 
Acre, and when filled, the Water would be about 8 or 10 
Feet deep ; from hence the Water was to be conveyed (as 
I before said) in Pipes through the City. All of this I could 
easily understand ; but the grand Question was how was the 
Machiene in the Well first actuated & continued its motion? 
This I was surprised to find was wholly done by the Power 
of Boiling Water. 

For further Perticulars see the next Memorandum. 

No. III. — Memorandum No. 3 continued, April 20, 1776. 

It was a long time before I could discover even by see- 
ing the Works how this could be effected, & the Man who 
shewed the Works could give me no satisfaction as to this 
till at length I found that by Means of a large Copper (which 
is kept boiling when it is requisite for the Works to be set 
in Motion) the Steem or Vapour of the Water is conveyed 
from thence into a strong Copper Tube of about 18 Indies 
Diamiter & about 10 Feet Long, which stands perpendicu- 
larly. The lower part or end of this Tube is tight; but the 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 27 

iiper End hath in it a moveable Stopper which may move 
upwards or Downwards with as much ease as possible, and 
at the same time to keep any of the Air from without from 
entering into the Tube & to keep it as tight as possible an- 
other part of the Works constantly supply the Top of the 
Tube above the Stopper with a small stream of Water. The 
Steem of the Hot Water (as I take it) entering into the 
Tube rarifyeth the Body of the Air contained therein to a 
great degree, when the Stopper is let loose and flyeth upwards 
with great Rapidity to the upper End of the Tube, when the 
Pressure of the Air from without throweth [it] back to the 
Bottom of the Tube with as great Force as it came upwards. 
When it gets to the Bottom it is again drove upwards by the 
same cause, c% repelled when it arrives at the Top : thus the 
Stopper is kept in constant Motion by the Means of Steam 
or Vapour, & to this Stopper is fastened a stout Wooden 
lever by a bar of Iron. The Lever is Fastened in the Mid- 
dle upon an Axis ; and as the Stopper of the Tube moves up- 
wards and downwards, it moves the Lever, which worketh 
the Engine in the Well, which forceth (as I before described) 
the Water into the Pond at the Top of the Hill. The 
Engine hath been tried & generally throws . . . Gallons in a 
Minute into the Pond. Thus have I given as perticular 
discription of this curious Engine as I possibly could, having 
viewed it but about 15 Minutes. I hope soon to see it at 
Work, when I can give a more perticular discription of sev- 
eral small parts of it for which I could see no use. 

21, Sunday. It being for some reason thought expedient 
to reinforce the Army at Canada, 4 Reg- had orders issued 
to be ready to imbarque on the 15-, & this day they set sail 
for Albany under command of Brigadier Gen! Thompson. 

In the afternoon, being disirous to attend publick Wor- 
ship, not having had an opportunity of so doing for a long 

4 



28 JOURNAL OP LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

Time since, I went into a small Meeting House, expecting it 
to be a Congregational Meeting ; but I soon found my Mis- 
take, for when the Priest arrived I could not in a long Time 
understand a Word he said. I inquired & found it was 
Dutch Church, & in this Church they used the high Dutch 
Language. They began Service with Singing, accompanied 
or led by a small Organ ; then (as I took it) with Prayers, 
some of which were formal, others Extempore. It is worthy 
of Notice that during the whole service the Congregation 
kept to their Seats, excepting once, when the Priest Read 
(as I was informed it was) his Text, & then only the Men 
arose. When he had finished this they again sat down, & 
kept their Seats during the Service till the Blessing was 
given. The Priest delivered a very lengthy Sermon, chiefly 
without Notes, & in the whole of his performances appeared 
as compleat an Orator as ever I heard speak. The Priest 
was dressed in a black Gown similar to that of the English 
Clergy, & performed the whole Service without the assistance 
of a Clerk ; the People some Times repeating after him, that 
is, when he used forms for Prayer. The Terminations of their 
language seemed greatly to resemble Greek. This was the 
only high Dutch Church in Town, tho there are several 
other Dutch Churches who use the low Dutch Language; 
these Languages being as different, as I am informed, as are 
the French & English Languages to each other. 

22. Our People have been very busily employed in fortifying 
a small Island called Governors Island, g,bout 1 Mile distance 
to the Southward of the Fort, & Works at the South West of 
the City. I spend my Time very agreeably in company with 
the officers of our Reg*, several of which are near my age. 
Sometimes visit Lieut. Parker & Doc"" Eustis^ of the Artilery. 

1 Hon. William Eustis, of the Class of 1772, afterwards Governor of Massa- 
chusetts. He was a Surgeon in the Revolutionary Army. See 15 I'roc. Mass. 
Hist. Soc. 128, where he appears on a court-martial under the name of " Eustace." 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 29 

24*^. I before mentioned this Reg* as being in the Bri- 
gade of which Gen! Green had the Command ; each Brigade 
was arranged on their Departure from Mass. Bay to stand 
no longer than during their March to N. York. Now the 
whole Army was again put into 5 Brigades under Command 
of the following Generals, Viz. : 1, Genl Heath ; 2, Spencer ; 
3, Sullivan ; 4, Green and the 5"^, Lord Sterling. 

Gen'f Heath & Sullivans Brigades each consisted of 5 
Reg- ; the others of 4 Reg*^ each ; and our Reg* by the New 
Establishment was put into GenI Heath's Brigade. 

25-. During the Course of the last Week I several 
Times visited the Holy Ground, before described. When I 
visited them at first, I thought nothing could exceed them 
for impudence and immodesty ; but I found the more I was 
acquainted with them the more they excelled in their Bru- 
tallity. To mention the Perticulars of their Behaviour would 
so pollute the Paper I write upon that I must excuse 
myself. 

The whole of my aim in visiting this Place at first was 
out of Curiosity, as was also that of the chief of the Gentle- 
men that accompanied ; & it seems Strange that any Man 
can so divest himself of Manhood as to desire an intimate 
Connexion with these worse than brutal Creatures, yet it is 
not more strange than true that many of our Officers & 
Soldiers have been so imprudent as to follow them, notwith- 
standing the salutary advice of their Friends, till the Fatal 
Disorder seized them & convinced them of their Error. I 
am informed that not less than 40 Men of one Reg* which 
last Sunday set off for Quebeck were infected with that 
disorder. What fine order these Men must be in to undergo 
a fatiegueing March through a cold, uninhabited Country ! 
Unless there is some care taken of these horrid Wretches by 
the Gen!, he will soon have his Army greatly impaired, for 



30 JOURNAL OP LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

they not only destroy Men by Sickness, but they sometimes 
inhumanly Murther them ; for since Monday last two Men 
were found inhumanly Murthered & concealed, besides one 
who was castrated in a barbarous Manner. This so exas- 
perated the Men that in the face of Day they assembled and 
pulled down the Houses where the Men were thus treated, 
& with great difficulty the Guards dispersed them after they 
had leveled them to the Ground. This, together with the 
common Riots incident to such Places, made our Men a 
little more Cautious how they ventured to prophane Holy 
Ground with their Presence. 

April 26. I mounted Guard with Capt. Crocker at Harri- 
sons' brewery. Here is a beautifull circular Fort, built 
wholly at the Expence & Labour of a Company of Grani- 
diers belonging to the City, for which they receiV^ the Genlf 
thanks pubHckly. I had a very pleasant Guard; treated 
very handsomely by W. M«Pherlin & Love & their Wives, 
who live in the House where the Officers Room was. They 
invited us to sup & Breakfast, & every way treated us gen- 
teelly & engaged our Future acquaintance. 

28, Sunday. In the fore noon I attended publick wor- 
ship in a Congregational Meeting, where they told me I 
should hear good preaching ; but I was very much disap- 
pointed, as the Parson had invited a Chaplain of the Army 
to do his work for him, who performed as much to my dis- 
satisfaction as ever I should desire any man to do. Being 
tired with such Nonsence as I heard in the forenoon, I 
thought to find something better by attending upon Service 
in the Church of England ; but the Satisfaction that I re- 
ceived from the delivery of an Excellent Sermon was greatly 
allayed by the Pedantick behaviour of the Priest, the Irreverent 
behaviour of the People, & the foolish parrade of Ceremonies. 
I am determined that unless I can find better entertainment 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 31 

the next Sunday to attend Worship with the Dutch Priest 
whom I heard last Sunday, chusing rather to worship where 
I understand nothing that is spoken than to hear such 
folly as was delivered in the fore noon ; and the Devout 
behaviour of the Dutch is more agreeable to me than 
all the Pomp, Equipage, & Majestick Expressions of the 
English Church, accompanied with such behaviour as was 
theirs. 

29. As the Continental Congress had ordered 6 More 
Regiments for Canada, the Gen^ gave out orders for Gen' 
Sullivan with that Number should embarque for Albany. 
These orders were given out on the 27"S and Many of the 
Men sailed for Albany this Day. 'Tis reported that this 
unexpected order is in Consequence of an Express which 
was lately sent to the Congress containing disagreeable News, 
& which they chuse not to divulge. 

They will be tolerably strong at Canady, 10 Reg*.* having 
gone from hence, besides the Army in those Parts before. 
The Brigade under Gen' Green was ordered to take the 
birth of Gen' Sullivans brigade on Long Island, as Gen! 
Sullivan is ordered for Canada. The other 3 Brigades to- 
gether with the Artilery are to encamp without the City on 
the Day after tomorrow. An old Whore who had been so 
long Dead that she was rotten was this Day found concealed 
in an out House at the Holy Ground. 

30. A severe cold Day for the Season. I went upon 
Fatigue, making additions to the Breast Work without the 
Fort. 

May V} Went with Cap' Allen & several other officers 
to visit Mr. M*=Pherlin, Love, &c., in the afternoon. We 
spent our Time very agreably. 

Took a survey of the Air Furnace (near by). In this 
Furnace they have cast many excellent Brass Field Pieces, ^ 



32 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

6 lb!, besides Iron Cannon eaqual to any ever made in any 
part of the World. 

May S'^. With Cap* Porter spent some time at a Biliard 
Table ; was very luckey, & reapt much Pleasure by the 
pleasant behaviour of the Gentlemen at that Place. 

4. Took a survey of the City Goal, which the Goaler 
shewed us. The Prisoners here are as well treated as in any 
Prison I ever visited. The Goal itself is a very Magnificent 
Building (upon the North side of the Common), having 
more the appearance of an elegant Mansion House than of a 
Common Gail ; the inside is regularly built, and is as conven- 
ient, both for the Prisoners & Jailer, as I can possibly imagine 
any could have been. 

6, Sunday. Attended Service in the fore Noon at the 
Brick Meeting ; heard an excellent Comment upon the S*'^ 
Psalm. In the afternoon atten'* Service at the Chapel & 
was well Satisfied, & wrote home to my Mother the second 
Time. 

7. We hear frightfull News of a Fleets having arrived at 
Boston, & that the Enemy had taken Possession of Dor- 
cliester Hills; the last part is a Lye of the Day. Saw B. 
Stone. 

8'^ Had News from England of the Resolutions of the 
Ministry to enforce their Measures the ensueing Summer by 
the Help of 25,000 New Troops from England & 20,000 
Hessians, Hanoverians, Brunsvvickers, &c., from Germany, 
12,000 of whom are destined for this place, 12,000 for 
Boston, 10,000 for Quebeck, & 11,000 for the Southern 
Provinces. These Forces are also to bring with them 27 
Commissioners to grant Pardons, & to delude the People of 
England with a Pretence that Peaceable & honorable Terms 
of Accommodation are offered, but that we would not accept. 
Would it not have been more honourable for them, if they 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 33 

had any Intentions of an Accommodation, to have lain hold 
of the opportunity offered in the last Petition of the Con- 
gress ? But this would not serve their Turn! But George 
must meanly beg the assistance of his Brother Robbers & 
Cuthroats, & by cringing & fawning to all Europe he hath 
been able to procure 20,000 Men, & these, with the Whole 
Armament of England, are to assist the Commissioners to 
treat with America for Peace. In the Mean Time America, 
seeing y* her Terms were slighted & discovering their Inten- 
tions, hath been busied in putting herself in the best Posture 
of Defence that the Nature of her Circumstances would 
admit. The affections of her Inhabitants (which before were 
strongly attached to Brittain, so that the People would have 
taken up satisfied with almost any Terms) have been more 
and more aliened from Brittain, that we are now upon 
the Eve of declaring ourselves independent of G. Brittain, 
& seting up an Empire for ourselves. What will be the 
Consequences of this God only Knows ! 

In the Afternoon I visited a very agreable Young Ladie 

of this City, Miss , with whom I had before had a 

small acquaintance, as I had, while on Guard, shewn this 
young Ladie & the Company with her the Civility due to 
Persons of their appearance. Viz., of shewing them the 
Works, &c. She, in her Turn, was not so ungratefull as to 
take no Notice of me, but as I accidentally passed the House 
for several Times, I observed that she seemed to Compliment 
me with more respect than is usual, or than I deserved ; but 
as I was bashfull, I no more than returned the Compliment, 
& passed by till at length I made bold to enter the House 
with the Gentleman that was with me ; but as he was in a 
great Hurry I could not tarry long, but was obliged to depart, 
bitterly against my will ; however I gave her Intimation 
that I should again call in, & as I could not discover but 



34 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

that it would be agreable, I took this opportunity to spend 
an Afternoon with her. I found playing upon her Spinet, 
upon which she performed to admiration ; her Musick, joined 
to an agreeable Person, gave me very favourable Ideas of 
my New Acquaintance. I spent the After Noon with her in 
her own Apartment, Reading & Chatting, &c., till about 
5 o'clock, when her Mother came and asked us to Tea. The 
Father was Absent, but her Mother was an agreable Woman, 
plainly dressed. They were Germans, who soon after they 
were married came into this Country. 1 know not whether 
they have an Estate or not. After Tea we spent About an 
Hour in the same Manner as before, when I was obliged to 
Attend Duty & took my leave, but Not till 1 had provided 
myself with some entertainin Books from her Library. 

9. Mounted Guard at Harrison Brewery, or Grenadiers 
Fort. Cap" Bolster of Learnard's Reg* commanded the 
Guard, a Gentleman of Superiour Abilities from what I had 
conceived from his outward appearance. 

10. Visited Miss B. Grim in the Evening. She had sev- 
eral Young Ladies with her & one Gentleman, a Physician ; 
spent the Evening in a Sociable Manner. 

11. Being unwell in the Morning, I had much difficulty to 
keep myself stiring about through the Day. In the After 
Noon, as I was taking a survey of the Works with Lieu* Hay- 
ward of the Artilery, a sudden Squall arose, & I caught a 
small wetting before I could cover myself. 

11. As Mr. Stone was about to leave the City to return 
Home (tho I was very unwell), I made shift to write two 
Letters for home ; but he was so disingenious as to disappoint 
both Lieu* Hayward & myself in the same thing, Viz. in not 
calling for our Letters, tho he past the Door. I know not 
what to impute this to but his heedlessness or his disobliging 
Temper. We had an Express from Philadelphia that 13 of 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 35 

our Gallies had attacked the Roebuck Man of War 44 Guns 
and a 28 Gun Ship, had run the Roebuck a ground on the 
Top of the Tide, & were waiting for the Tide to fall to make 
the Second attack. Continuing to be unwell, in the Even- 
ing I took a Vomit. Our Reg*, which had before this been 
unsupplied with Tents, now had their compliment, & pitched 
them in the Place allotted them, about a Mile to the North 
of the Town ; but did not remove. 

12, Sunday. I was very weak & unwell ; never the less 
I went to the Brick Meeting to attend Service, but was so 
grievously afflicted, partly with weakness following my last 
nights Frolick, & partly with a number of troublesome 
Boils that had now taken possession of my Body, that I can 
give no ace* of the Service. In the Afternoon our people 
were emplo3^ed in fixing their Tents. 

13, Monday. Our People removed into their Tents, & 
I took Boarding with Mrs. March on Slip, being so 
troubled with 5 Boils that I could scarcely walk. 

14, Continued very ill ; a small Fever seting in took all 
my apetite for food away. This, with the Anguish of the 
sore Boils, brought me so weak that I could not sit up ^ 
the Day. 

Had disagreeable news from Quebeck that the Enemy had 
made a Sally, being impowered thereto by reinforcements 
that arrived on the 4**^ of May, & that not more than 200 of 
our Men being to oppose them, they had taken the Hospital 
with 200 Sick, almost the whole of the Artilery & Amuni- 
tion, with all the Provisions. If this is true, there is great 
Blame for the General, as our Army consisted of about 
7,500 Men. 

May 15, 16. Continued very 111 with the Boils. The 
Doctor visited me several Times ; sat up about \ my Time. 

17*''. A Solemn Fast throng the Continent, but a little \/ 
esteemed by many of the Inhabitants. 

5 



36 JOUHNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

18. Authority had been several Times before this em- 
ployed in bringing the Tories of this City to Terms, but as 
many of late had returned from the Country, whither they 
had fled for Safety, they began again & had each one before 
the Committee of Safety, whom they obliged by an Oath Not 
to act Inimically to America, and then took their Arms into 
Custody; but about 20 proving refractory were commited to 
Goal. 

19. Sunday. Continueing unwell & unable to walk, I 
could not go to Church ; & as I had an Opportunity I wrote 
a Letter to my Mother, as also one to S. Emery, «Sc sent 
them both to Nantucket. 

20. News has been circulating in the City for several Days 
that a large Number of the Regulars are at Sandy Hook & 
will soon be up to the City. 

21. A Schooner belonging to Providence, which had about 
8 Tons of Powder, 300 Stands of Arms, &c., was taken by a 
small Tender at Sandy Hook. 

22. Growing Better, I am determined to go into the 
Tents. 

23. Ride up to the Tents, & almost Frieze in the Night. 

24. Spend my Time very disagreably upon account of 
the Caprice of several pretended Gentlemen. However I 
have several worthy Friends ; I am determined to take as 
little of insults as possible. Had News from Boston of a 
valuable Prize being taken by Cap* Mugford in a Continen- 
tal armed Schooner. Cap* Mugford unhapily lost his Life by 
opposing 13 Boats from the Men of War, who endeavoured 
to board him & retake the Prize ; but they were repulsed 
with great loss. 

25. Being unable to walk, I took a ride into the City ; 
took this opportunity to call upon Miss Betsy Grim, whom 
I had not visited since I was first taken ill. She had the 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 37 

day before gone to make a visit in the Country. The Family 
wondered at my so long absence, but concluded I was sick. 
Saw Lieu* Webb, who was doing Duty with about | of the 
Company on board the Whale Boats ; he desired me to 
write home to acquaint his Wife of his welfare, which I did 
the next Day. 

May 26, Sunday. Being lame, I could not attend upon 
divine Service, but spent the chief part of the Day with 
Maj' Haden in his & my own Tent in reading Herveys 
Meditations. I wrote to my Mother. The Enemy are col- 
lecting a Fleet of Transports & Ships of War at Sandy Hook. 
Our Men have been very busied in building Forts & Breast 
works on the Jersie Side. 

2T. This is the first Time I did Duty since my late indis- 
position (from which, thro the Goodness of God, I have 
almost perfectly recovered, excepting a lameness from a very 
bad Boil under my left Ham. I mounted Piquet, unable to 
do other Duty. The Men complain of hard Duty, a thing 
not uncommon in Armies. The Duty is very constant, tho 
not hard. 

29*'^. Gen> Election at Boston. I took a walk into the 
City. 

30*. I went upon Fatiegue upon the Jersie side. Lieut^ 
Hudson, Church, & Myself were the officers from our Reg*. 
We worked upon a small Fort ; the Men in General worked 
well. Had some disagreement with the Engineers assist- 
ant about detaining us too long, as the Men would not 
work after 5 o'clock, as we had to row across the River 
home. However, we tarried till six o'clock, tho we did no 
work after 5. The Men behaved well to the officers. I 
enjoy myself well on the recovery of my Health. 

May 31''. I took a walk to visit my Friends in the City. 
I am greatly rejoiced at the great regard and Esteem that I 



38 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

discovered I had shewn me on a particular Occasion by some 
of the officers in our Reg^ 

June 2*^. I mounted Guard at the Lower Barracks in the 
Grand Batter3\ The Guard consisted of 80 Men, 1 Cap"^, 
& 3 Subs. Had a tolerable pleasant Time of it. It was Sun- 
day, and we had a great Number of Visitants after Service 
was performed, — Lieut Hay ward, &c. 

3^*. The Officers of our Reg* had established an Associa- 
tion consisting of the whole Choir of Officers to consult upon 
Matters that should occur relating to our Regt, & to spend 
a few Hours in Social Conversation. We had a Room at a 
Publick House not far from the Camp, & were to meet once 
in a Fortnight upon Mondays in the Afternoon. There had 
been already two of these associations, but I had not attended 
on account of my late Indisposition. In each of these the 
manner of my appointment in this Reg* (which had given 
umbrage to some that I had superceeded) was discussed in 
my absence ; but by accounts from some particular very 
worthy Friends, in whom I could confide, I was respected 
by all as to my Character, even above what I thought I 
deserved, & that I myself was not blamed by any in coming 
into the Reg! ; but the Colonels who had recommended me 
to superceed others had been greatly blamed ; that at first 
I was blamed for my Conduct, in not consulting Cap'^ Allen 
& his Officers to know whether it would be agreeable, but 
that several of my Friends which were well respected in the 
Association had appeared very warm in my Favour & had 
almost given entire satisfaction. I considered well of these 
Matters before I went to the Association ; it gave me great 
uneasiness that the Colonels should be blamed on my Ac- 
count when they had never intended any Injustice to any 
one, & in their , Proceedings were perfectly innocent & 
free from blame. ■ Several circumstances had occurred at 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 39 

the Time of my appointment which were not perfectly un- 
derstood by all, notwithstanding what had been offered by 
my Friends had given considerable Satisfaction to the few 
who were at first disgusted. I thought that if I took 
occasion to give a particular detail of these circumstances 
I should perhaps give greater Satisfaction. Oportunity 
favoured my design, & I gave as regular account of the 
whole Affair as I was able to do. When I was speaking I 
could perceive by the Countenances of many that what I 
offered was agreeable, & after I had finished they all de- 
clared themselves to be satisfied. 

June 3*? After I had arrived in the Camp I had the Pleas- 
ure to be congratulated by my Friends on my giving such 
satisfaction. The Lieut Colonel in Particular thanked me 
for what I had said. 

June 4. I tarried in the Camp all Day. This Day is the 
Kings Birth Day. No Festivity, Joy, or Mirth were dis- 
covered on this Occasion. 

Lieut. Shaw, the Gentleman whom I succeeded, came from 
N. England to visit his Friends ; brought a Number of Let- 
ters for the Men of our Reg* By these several were made 
acquainted with the Death of their Relatives. I have not 
heard from home but by Mr. Stone since I left Roxbury ; 
whether it will be my unhappy Fate to have the same dis- 
agreeable News from my Relatives, or whether I shall have 
the Happiness to hear of their Welfare, God only knows ! 
May he prepare me for whatever he shall think fit to lay 
upon me ! 

5*^ I was upon the Piquet Guard. 

6*\ Our whole Brigade, consisting of 5 Regiments, — 
Viz., Learnards, Reeds, Prescotts, Baileys, & Baldwins, — 
marched into the City to take their Alarm Post, excepting 
Prescotts regiment, which is stationed on Governors Island. 



40 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

Gen! Heath Marched at our Head. Gen! Washington had 
been at Philadelphia to consult with the Congress upon some 
weighty Affairs ; while he was absent it had been circulated 
sj by the Tories that he had gone to resign his Office. This 
believed by many in the Army. Nevertheless, he arrived in 
the City just before we marched into the City. Through 
Broad Way we marched round the King's Statue, & went back 
to the Parade, where we formed the Batalion, & Gen! Wash- 
ington, with several other GenP, the Judge Advocate, &c., 
Marched by us, the Officers Saluted, & our Reg* receiv^ the 
Particular thanks of the Gen! for their good conduct. 

7- I went into the City, visited Doc"" Warren,^ my old 
Friend; the first time I could find him, tho he had been in 
the City a Fortnight. Miss Betsy Grim had returned. Spent 
about 3 Hours very agreeably, & return*^ according to En- 
gagement & dined with Doctor Warren, in Company with 
Major Cary, Judge Advocate Tudor,^ & several Young 
Ladies. I spent the greatest part of the afternoon very 
agreeably in the same Company in the Gardens, &c. Then 
went into the City, was called in by DocJ Eustis & Cap° 
Sergeant, drank Grog, &c. Lieut. Hayward & myself took an 
Evening walk, visited Fort Mongomery, discoursed on some 
particular Affairs, then on different Subjects ; had a Friendly 
Conference, & got to my Tent about 10 o'clock. 

Memorandum No. IV. continued. 

June S*'^, 1776. This Day being the Jewish Sabbath, I 
went into the City in the Afternoon with Insign Bryant to 

1 His classmate, Dr. John Warren, great-grandfather of the present Dr. 
John ColHns Warren, of the Class of 1863. 

2 Hon. Wilham Tudor, b. 28 March, 1750 ; d. 8 July, 1819. He was Judge 
Advocate of the Continental Arnay from 30 July, 1775, until 1778. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 41 

observe the Method of the Jewish Worship. The Synagogue 
is a small Square Building, having a Gallery all around, 
though no Person sat therein. At the Heith of the lower 
Part of the Gallery in the corners are 4 Candlesticks of Brass 
hanging from the Roof, each having 16 Candles of Wax ; in 
the Centre of these is another, having twice that Number. 
At the East End of the Synagogue is a large Closet, which 
serves as a repository for the Law and (I suppose) other holy 
things. This is encompassed with Banisters, and the Ascent 
thereto is by 3 or 4 Steps. Upon the Corner Posts of the 
Banisters are standing large Brass Candle Sticks, about 1| 
Feet long, & proportionable in Magnitude. In these are Wax 
Candles of about 4 Inches Diamiter and about 3 Feet Long. 
In the Middle of the Synagogue is the Rostrum or Pulpit 
looking to the Repository, to which the Ascent is by 3 Steps. 
On this is a large Table covered with Red Tapestry, fringed 
with Silver Lace. On each Corner of this also is a Candle- 
stick and Candle like the Former. None of the Candles are 
alight in the day Time, but a Glass Lamp hangs from the 
Roof, facing the Repository, which is kept constantly burning 
both night & Day. The Priest was a handsome Young 
Man of about 25, dressed in a black Gown, such as is worn 
by Bachelors of Arts. When he entered the Synagogue, he 
first walked to the Repository and unlocked the Door, then 
came down & went into the Rostrum & began to read, or 
what we should call sing, and soon after the People all 
joined with him, tho they did not observe good Time in their 
singing (as I then thought it to be, tho afterwards I was 
informed it was the propper way of their Reading). Some- 
times this singing would alter into jabering, & the Priest 
would mutter his Hebrew much faster than I could read or 
speak English. This was done all siting. Afterwards the 
Priest arose, and stood still singing with his Eyes fixed on 



42 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

the Repository of the Law, and leaning on the Table in the 
Rostrum ; in about a Minute he went out of the Rostrum, & 
several others followed him to the Repository, & one of 
them brought out the law written on a Roll of Parchment. 
At each end of the Roll was a Stick or Staff, over which the 
Law Rolled in two Rolls. On the Top of the Sticks were a 
great Number of small Silver Bells, & over the Bells a Silver 
Crown. They carryed the Law into the Rostrum, when 
they Pawwayed a little Time over it ; then the Priest took 
it, & opening it, he lifted it up by the two sticks and turned 
it around to all the People, at the sight of which they all 
Bawled out again. After much Ceremony, the Law was 
carried back again ; the Priest, both in taking out the Law, 
in carrying it back, continued singing. After this they 
Prayed, all standing, faced eastward with their Eyes cast 
upward, &c., &c., which I cant remember, & then all dispersed, 
except a Few whom we left behind. It is worthy of observa- 
tion that during the whole Ceremony, even in Praying, none 
took off their Hats, but sat and stood with them on. 

Sunday^ June 9-, 1776. This day I had the command of 
87 Men to go to the Jersie side upon Fatiegue. Very warm 
& uncomfortable. The Men behaved very decently. 

10, In the Afternoon Mr. W"^ Stone accompanied by 
Lieut Hayward came to Visit me in Camp. Mr. Stone 
brought me a Letter from my Mother ; (blessed be God) my 
Friends are all well. He told me that Cap" Downs^ had remov*^ 
with his Family to Nantucket. After the Gent" and I had 
drank a little Grog, wee walked into the City & spent the 
afternoon very agreeably. I met Doc' Curtis,^ a Gen" with 

1 Capt. Shubael Downes married Dr. Isaac's sister Lydia ; their daughter 
Caroline married Hon. Nathan Brooks, of Concord, and was the motiier of the 
wife of Hon E. R. Hoar, and of Judge Brooks. 

- Dr. Benjamin Curtis of the Class of 1771. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 43 

whom I was very intimate at College, & whom I had not 
seen since we took our Degrees. We had a long Confer- 
ence ; walked through the Forts together, & he gave me in- 
formation of my old Friend Loring,^ who is now a Surgeon 
to the Ministerial Butchers. This gave me great Trouble. 
On my return home I spent the Evening with Doc'' Warren 
at his Lodging. When I returned I found Trouble on ace' 
of support. 

Tuesday, June 11, 1776. In the afternoon I was visited by 
Doc' Townshend^ & Eustis, two old Comrades. Took a walk 
into the City with them & spent the Evening. 

Two French vessels arrived here about 3 Days since, 
loaded with W. India Goods, which knocks down the exor- 
bitant Price of those articles a little. Had some Trouble ; 
my Friends support me, — I have many of them. 

12. I mounted Guard at the N. River in the City with 
the Hair Caps, i, e., York Tories who tho they have & are 
deserving of a Bad Character, yet they behaved very well by 
being kept in good Subjection. Here I found me a Sweet- 
heart. There are very many in the City of York who have 
behaved in an inimical Manner to America, a large Mob 
this Day visited many of them, & treated them very inhu- 
manly by carrying them on a Rail through the Streets, strip- 
ing them, &c. Many of the Officers endeavoured to suppress 
them, but were unable only to disperse them for a little 
time. Towards Night they came nigh our Guard, & I 
desired the Cajj? to turn out the Guard «& disperse them, 

1 Benjamin Loring, of the Class of 1772, son of Joshua Loring, a Mandamus 
Councillor, who was proscribed anJ banished, and his beautiful house in 
Jamaica Plain (afterwards Col. D. S. Greenough's) confiscated. His son 
Benjamin was a Surgeon in the King's Army ; went to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, 
at the peace, but returned and died in Boston in 1798. N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg., 
vol. xxii. p. 3 ; Sabine's Loyalists. 

2 Probably Dr. David Townsend, of the Class of 1770. 

6 



l/ 



44 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

but he was unwilling ; however, they did no Violence to the 
two Tories whom they were in pursuit of, but brought them 
to us & desired us to keep them, which we did out of com- 
passion to the poor Men, but as no Crime was sent in against 
them, we dismissed them at relieving of the Guard. They 
were unwilling to quit the Guard House, which they thought 
a safe Asylum, & we left them but not as Prisoners. 

13. I wrote to my Mother in answer to her late Letter, 
& sent it by W" Stone, who was bound immediately home. 
I wrote also to Cap* Downs, but did not send the Letter, as 
I should have a more Favourable opportunity in a few Days 
to send to Nantucket. 

A hand Bill appeared containing a Letter from the Con- 
gress to the Convention of N. York desiring them to call in 
their Militia, as the Congress had certain inteligence that 
L"^ Howe intended to make an attack very soon on N. York 
within 10 Days at furtherest. We are tolerably fortified 
unless they get past the Forts and land above us. We have 
daily bad News from Quebeck, & there has been a great 
Misconduct from what I can learn. 

June 14, 1776. I was a Member of a Regimental Court 
Martial ; we had but one Prisoner brought before iis, and as 
his Crime was small, his Punishment was accordingly in 
proportion. At Night I went on Piquet Guard. 

16*?, Sunday. In the afternoon I attended on Divine 
Service under the Trees. God hath no regard to Place. 
The Priest thought himself to be something Great. 

17. This day is the 17- of June, memorable for the Bat- 
tle of Bunkers Hill in Charleston. I spent the Evening on 
board the Nantucket Vessell, one Cap* Beard Commander. 

18*-. I went on Fatiegue at Powles Hooke. I had the 
Command, & the Men behaved well. In the Afternoon 
Cap* Beard, his Brother, & Mr. Chase, a Passenger, came up 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 45 

to visit me ; in the Evening it rained hard that they could 
not go home for fear of the Centuries. I therefore went on 
board with them, & continued all Night; we were very 
sociable. 

June 19*?. On Monday last Major Brookes with 200 Men 
and 2 Comp^ of Artilery set off in the Afternoon on a private 
Expedition. We now find they were gone with an intention 
to destroy the light House of which the Marienes from on 
board the Ships had taken possession by building a Fort. 

Reports are various concerning the Success of the Party, 
a considerable firing hath been heard. I went into the 
City in the afternoon & visited several of my Friends. On 
my return to the Camp I saw several New Copper Mortars 
tried ; these Mortars had been made in this City a few Days 
since, & performed very well. Cap' Beard and his Brother, 
together with Mr. Chase, a Passenger (all belonging to 
Nantucket), spent the Evening in my Tent; a sudden 
Squall which arose detained them till after the C. S. was de- 
mandable, & as they were under a Necessity to return & they 
might meet with difficulty, I was obliged to go home with 
them, and tarried all Night. I spent the Evening & Night 
very merryly ; after breakfast in the Morning returned. 

20. I went to the City. Lieut. Hayward and myself spent 
the Evening on board Capt. Beards vessell. 1 sent a Letter 
to Capt. Downs. I have many Reflections Concerning the 
mispence of Time, therefore determined to spend some of 
my Leisure Hours in the Study of the French Language. 

21. Orders were last night issued for 80 Men, 2 Sub? & 
1 Cap' to go on a private Expedition. These Officers & Men 
were drawn from the several Reg'^^ in the Army. I was sent 
to be the Ofiicer from Gen! Heaths Brigade. We paraded 
according to orders at the Laboratorj^ at 9 o'clock with Seven 

IDays Provisions, Arms, Ammunition, &c. Lieut^ Wheeler 



46 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

& Makepeace from the two other Brigades brought the 
Quota of Men belongiug to each of them. This Party was 
raised to reinforce the Party at tlie Light house ; but since 
the orders were issued News had been received that the 
Party were unable to effect anything for the want of heavier 
Metal, & were on their return. We were therefore ordered 
to return our Arms, & were sent to the Jersies to cut Cedar 
Wood Logs, &c. to build Fire Rafts. We imbarqued about 
2 o'clock in the Afternoon &, sailed toward Staten Island, 
where we entered a small River. On each side were many 
beautifull Plantations, affording a delightfull repast to the 
senses of seeing & hearing. After having sailed about 14 
Miles from New York, the Wind failing & the Tide seting 
down, we despaired of getting up this Night, as we had not 
yet arrived to more than half the first distance ; therefore, 
determined to go by land. We landed at Bergen Point, after 
traveling 9 Miles through a country very well timbered but 
thinly settled with Inhabitants we arrived to the Place where 
we were to work, excepting the passing a short Ferry. Here 
we tarried all Night at a Publick House (Cadmuns) ; found 
we were now but 13 Miles by land from N. York. 

22. The Periogue, in which we left all our Axes & Pro- 
visions, did not arrive till near 12 o'clock ; therefore we did 
little work this day. We lived at the Ferry House on the 
W. of Hackensack River ; we worked in a Cedar Swamp 
about I Mile to the Westward, belonging to Mr. Schuyler.^ 
This Gentlemans Father had built a Causeway from the Ferry 

1 Arent John* Schuyler (John^, Arenf^, Philip Petersen^), born about 1749, 
married in 1772 Swartie Schuyler, died 1803; son of Col. John and Anna (Van 
Rensselaer) Schuyler, and great-grandson of the original immigrant from 
Holland, Philip Petersen Van Schuyler. Mr. George L. Schuyler, to whom, 
through the kindness of the Hon. R. C. Winthrop, I owe this information, 
says that there are many descendants of Arent Schuyler in New Jersey, and 
that the old house hereinafter described is no longer in the family. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 47 

House through the Swamp, which is 3 Miles & 20 Chaius, 
at his own expense, chiefly to accomodate the Publick with 
a Passage to & from N. York, as it saved many People above 
15 Miles traveling ; & it is now used as a Post Road to 
Philadelphia & is a saving of about 9 Miles. In the after- 
noon Lieut^ Wheeler, Makepeace, & myself visited Mr. Schuy- 
ler, about 4 Miles distance, found him a very agreable 
Gentleman of about 28 years ; with him we tarried all 
Night, & could not excuse ourselves from so doing. An 
old Man accompanied us as a Pilot, & in our Way he 
shewed us the Copper Mines belonging to Mr. Schuyler ; the 
Work which we could perceive had been done in them was 
sufficient to astonish any Man who had seen so little of the 
World as I had. Nothing had been done in these Mines for 
4 Years, the Engine for throwing of the Water having been 
burnt about that Time. This cost about 3 Thousand, ster- 
ling, & would cast out of the Earth 80 Hogsheads in a 
Minute. This was actuated by Fire, & from fire it had its 
only Motion ; & it was constructed upon the same Princi- 
ples & much in the same Form as that of N. York for 
watering the City ; but (from necessity) the Works of 
Mr. Schuyler were greatly superiour in Magnitude to those 
of the City, of which I could judge by the incombustible 
Matter which was still remaining. 

Sunday, June 23'^, 1776. This Morning arose early (hav- 
ing overnight taken our leave of the Family) & came to our 
Party, to whom we gave their stints. Mr. Schuyler had 
promised to visit us at our lodging this Day, but staying be- 
yond the appointed Hour we thought he would not come ; 
therefore we took a walk to Bergen, a Dutch Town, he 
came, & brought a Friend, & tarried as long as he conven- 
iently could ; then came over the River after us, but could 
not find us. He left word that he was going a small jour- 



48 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

ney & could not see us again for 2 Days. I am very sorry, 
as I am greatly in love with him & impatient to see him. 
Yesterday we heard of a Plot being Discovered in which a 
great Number of the Citizens, Long Islanders, some of the 
Gen'" Life Guard, & others of the Army had conspired to 
Murther the General, blow up the Magaziens, & seize the 
Cannon of some of the Works, & hold possession of tlie Forts 
on Powles Hook. This was to be done on the First approach 
of the Enemy, that taking the advantage of our Confusion 
they might put us to a greater. The Mayor of the City of 
Yoi'k, whose Name is Mathews, & one Forbes, were the 
chief of the Conspirators. Both of these had receiv"^ Money 
from Governor Tryon to buy Arms & pay their infernal 
Tools ; they had gone so far, according to all accounts, as 
to arrange the Conspirators into Companies, & to appoint 
their officers, whom they swore by the Bible to be true & 
Faithfull to the King. But now both Forbes & the Mayor 
are under confinement, & the General hath a list of the 
Names of all the Conspirators, but none are known before 
they are taken into custody. Parties of the Independant 
Companies of the City are gone into Long Island in search 
of some of the Rogues who have taken themselves into the 
Woods to schreen themselves from the Punishment they 
deserve. 

24. After the Party had finished their Work, we took a 
walk as far as Powles Hooke. Then Lieut Wheeler went over 
to York, but Lieu* Makepeace & myself went back as far as 
Bergen in a Stage Waggon, then visited several of the Dutch 
People, & at Night we went back to Mr. Dowes. 

25. I took the Party to their Work in the Morning, & 
Lieu* Wheeler returned & gave much the same account of 
the above Plot as we had before receiv'd. In the afternoon 
Mr. Schuyler came to see us, & spent a very sociable Visit. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 49 

We treated him with Madeira Wine, Grog, &c. ; but to our 
surprise he settled the whole Reckoning himself before we 
could know. 

June 25'-, 1776. Lieut. Makepeace being a little unwell, 
Mr. Schuyler took him home with him, & engaged us to dine 
with him the next day. 

26. The Party having finished their Stints, we set off for 
Mr. Schuylers, according to Engagement ; he Met us about 
half way with a Chair. We had an Elegant Dinner. After 
Dinner Lieu* Wheeler returned, & left Makepeace & myself 
with Mr. Schuyler. Towards Night we took a tour across 
the River west of his House, & recreated ourselves at a Pub- 
lick House by playing Bowles & drinking Wine, Grog, &c. in 
Company with several Gentlemen of Mr. Schuyler's acquaint- 
ance. About 8 o'clock we returned to Mr. Schuylers ; found 
a Gentleman who had come to spend an Evening with him, — 
Mr. Dubois, a learned & comical Genius. 

27*^. Mr. Schuyler, after Breakfast, came with us in a 
Chair, & tarried till after Sunset, during which time many 
Decanters of Wine suffered Shipwreck, many Bowles of Grog- 
were poured down our thirsty Bellies ; nor was Egg Pop 
forgot among our Dainties. Spent the whole Day very 
agreably. Before Night the whole Party set off, & left 
me to take care of the Teams and to take accounts of the 
Timber, Wood, &c. we had cut, & to give Certificates for 
the Teams, Boats, Wood, &c., after I had got it to the Land- 
ing, to the Q. Master General, This Evening we hear bad 
news from Quebeck ; but as Reports are so often false, we 
can make no Dependance on what we hear. 

28. Slept very 111. Mr. Schuyler came at 10 o'clock ; we 
spent the forenoon very agreably, & got all the Timber, &c. 
to the Landing. The afternoon was taken up in giving Cer- 
tificates, making up acc'% &c. This could not be finished till 



50 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

after sunset, and as it was too late to return to York, I readily 
accepted of Mr. Schuyler's Invitation to go with him for the 
Night. Spent the Evening much to my satisfaction. This 
Day we heard of one Thomas Hickey, a Soldier in Gen^ 
Washington's Life Guard, being Executed for joining in the 
Plot mentioned above. This man was a Deserter from the 
Ministerial Army. He that is false to one Party is not to be 
trusted in any, tliough its opposite. This Hickey was drawn 
into the Plot by the persuasions of one Green, the Drummer 
for the Life Guard. Green also was a Deserter, but is kept 
to give Evidence against others. 

June 29, 1776. I Returned to York. Mr. Schuyler lent 
me a Horse to Ride ; he & an Aunt rode in a Chaise. When 
I arrived I made my Returns to the Deputy Quarter Master 
Gen', took my leave of Mr. Schuyler, & returned to my Tent. 
Found Ensign Bryant had gone to the Works as a Carpenter 
to build a Machiene to sink in the River to prevent the 
Enemy's Ships from penetrating up the Ghanell. 

Since I have had occasion to speak frequently of Mr. 
Schuyler, I must give a small Detail of his Family, which 
consisted of Himself, Wife, one small Daughter, a Mother, & 
Miss Polly, his Sister, about 13 or 14 years old, besides a 
Brother of his Wife & his Family, who fled from York. 
What can be said of one may be justl}' applicable to all, viz., 
considering all Circumstances, they are as agreeable People 
as ever I had the Pleasure of being acquainted with. Mr. 
Schuyler, (tho a Gentleman of Liberal Education, not more 
than 27 years of age, & one of the first Estates in the Prov- 
ince,) yet he inspects every work upon his Farm, which is 
vastly extensive. 

Mrs. Schuyler (his Wife), tho not beautifull in her out- 
ward Form, is possed of such a beauteous Mind as must 
make her agreeable to every one that hath the pleasure to be 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 51 

acquainted with her. She, as doth her Husband, taketh 
Pleasure in regulating the affairs of her Family, which by her 
Diligence & Care is kept in the neatest Order, & the greatest 
Harmony & Decorum may be observed in every Department 
of the Whole. Besides the Persons before mentioned which 
compose the Family are about 50 or 60 Blacks, all of whom, 
except those who are necessary for Domestic Service, live in 
a large, convenient House built for that Purpose without the 
Gate ; in the House every servant their perticular Sphere to 
act in. I never saw more than 2 in the House otherwise 
than in the Kitchen, & those were waiters. Those who live 
in the Out House each have their perticular Department & 
regular Hours to Work in ; their Victual is cooked at certain 
Hours by their own Cookes, to which they are regularly called 
by a Bell, which Rings in the Morning for the Servants to 
turn out to their Work, and at 7 for Breakfast, at 12 for 
Dinner, at a propper Time for them to leave their Work, & 
again at 8 in the Evening for each to repair to their House, 
after which no Noise is heard. 

Notwithstanding they have so large a Family to regulate, 
Mrs. Schuyler also seeth to the Manufactoring of suitable 
cloathing for all the Servants, all of which is the Produce of 
their own Plantation ; in which she is helped by her Mamma 
& Miss Polly. The whole is done with less Combustion & 
Noise than many Families who have not more than 4 or 5 
Persons in the whole Family. This whole Family seems ever 
to be still, quiet, & serene, notwithstanding its magnitude & 
the multiplicity of Buisness which they have to transact. 
Mr. & Mrs. Schuyler seem always to be at leisure, & never 
disturb Company with being busied & hurried more than if 
they had nothing to do. What added to my surprise, after 
observing the regulations of this wonderfull Family, was to 
understand that Mrs. Schuyler was born of & brought up in 

7 



52 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

a Rich & genteel Family in the City of York, where her 
Education must have been so vastly different from & noway 
connected with the Life which she now leads ; nor doth she 
now cast off the Mein & Behaviour of the genteel bred 
Woman, but the whole Family live & dress in a very genteel 
manner, so far as gentility is consistent with Reason. 

It is not from any Parsimonious Views that Mr. Schuyler 
or his Wife employ themselves in many Matters which is 
uncommon for People of their Fortune, but they often 
told me when I expressed my Surprise at it, that this was 
their greatest Pleasure, & they would both in passionate 
Terms lament & pity the Fate of those People of Fortune 
who were so blinded by their Education as not to discover 
some such Expedient to employ those many leisure Hours 
which they are daily racking their Invention to kill & which 
Nevertheless hang heavy on their Hands. Nor do either of 
them wholly slight the diversions of the Town ; but fre- 
quently they were wont, while the Town was in Peace, to 
spend a few Days at a time in the City, & sometimes they 
make small excursions in the Country. 

Mr. Schuylers Mansion House is a large, grand, and mag- 
nificent building, built partly of stone & the rest brick ; most 
beautifully scituate upon an Eminence on the east Bank of 
what is called Hackensack River. On the West side of the 
River, by the Water, is the Road which leads to Hackensack, 
Albany, &c., by which are a considerable number of Build- 
ings, & two Churches, the one a Dutch & the other an 
English Church, built by Mr. Schuylers Father. These, 
together with the Buildings, standing by a straight & level 
Road,. and the beautifull Groves on the Eminences on the 
West, afford a most delightfull prospect from the Front of 
Mr. Schuyler's House. On the back part of the House is a 
large, neat Garden, built partly for Ornament & partly for 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 53 

Convenience. At the back of the Garden is a prodigious high 
Hill covered with Woods. The House hath a sufficiency of 
outhouses on the South, & on the North, at a little distance, 
are his Barns, sufficient to accomodate his Farm, which by 
accounts is three Miles across. In fine the Scituation of this 
Gentleman's Dwelling, both for convenience and Pleasure, is 
the best that ever I beheld. On the Bast of his House at 
the Distance of about | of a Mile he hath two Parks in which 
are about 150 or 160 Deer ; but I could get no sight of them, 
as they never came out of the Woods except in the Night. 

Mr. Schuyler was descended from the Family of Schuylers 
which rendered so much good Service to N. England, as 
mentioned in Hutchinson's History. There are many of the 
same Family at Albany now, and at New York. This Gen- 
tlemans Grandfather, in but tolerable circumstances, moved 
from Albany to the place above described (the Township is 
called New Barbadoes), where he accidentally discovered the 
Copper Mines now possessed by his Grand Child (mentioned 
22*? of June), out of which he got great Wealth & the 
Family carrying on the Works have made daily additions to 
the Estate till they have all the Lands contiguous & are now 
immensely Rich. The whole Family have been Noted for 
their Liberality to the Publick, but especially to the Poor & 
Indigent ; & it is remarkable that of the great Number I 
daily while there heard speak of the Family, none spoke 
otherwise than with respect & Love. 

What can hinder this Man from being happy unless he 
had a most discontented Mind ? 

A Man that in Mr. Schuyler's Scituation could not be 
happy deserves no longer to continue on the Earth. I 
remember once to have asked him if he thought himself 
Happy ; he replied. Yes. I then asked if he thought any 
Man more happy than himself? He calmly answered that 



54 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

possibly some might be, for he had his gloomy Hours ; but 
that the Man that was more Happy than himself was happy 
indeed, but that he imagined & made no doubt that many 
were as happy. 

This last part I doubt of ; for tho some have, to outward 
appearance, sufficient to make them happy, yet few have 
that Temper and disposition & Temper of Mind which is 
the chief Blessing enjoyed by this Gentleman. Without 
making any more remarks (for I cant do justice to what I 
have endeavoured) I must declare the Few days spent in 
this Family to be the most happy of any that I was ever sen- 
cible of enjoying in my Life. 

While I was with him we contracted a most intimate 
Friendship, & he on parting desired me to visit him as often 
as possible & on his part engaged to do the same. He also 
made me a very generous offer with regard to being innocu- 
lated with the small Pox, which I believe I shall accept 
when I have served my Country through this Campaign. 

As I returned to York, I saw the Signals for the arrival of 
more than 20 Ships hoisted on Staten Island. 

June 30, 1776. I went to a German Church in the fore 
Noon with Lieut" Drew & Alden and Ensigns Bradford & 
Cotton. As I did not understand the Language, I could not 
determine as to the abilities of the Priest, but he seemed a 
poor Orator. In the afternoon we went to the Quaker 
Meeting & sat about 2 Hours, and nothing being said we 
set off & left them, took a Bowl or two of Grog & return'^^ 
to Camp. On my return saw Thos Covil, who informed me 
of my friends, Webb, &c., in the Whale Boats. There were 
brought to town last night 4 Officers & 16 Sailors who came 
up in a Barge to sound the Chanell, & were fired upon by 
one of our Forts & brought too. Yesterday arrived at the 
Hooke 130 Sail of Ships & Transports. Those Persons 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 55 

who had been intrusted with the Countersign had been so 
imprudent as to give it out to others, that it was no difficult 
Matter even for a Stranger to get it, & Centuries were often 
imposed upon & abused when on their Posts ; several were 
fired upon & one wounded. Therefore it was directed that 
the Countersign should be delivered to none but Colonels & 
Officers of Guards ; by this Means I hope we shall be in 
more safety. 

July 1^*, 1776. In the fore Noon spent some time very 
agreeably with some young Ladies of my acquaintance in the 
City. 

In the Afternoon took the Alarm Post assigned for our 
Reg* about 2 Miles up the River from our Incampment. 

2^. Part of the Fleet came up to the Watering Place on 
Staten Island in plain sight of the City ; this caused the 
signals for an Alarm. The Inhabitants are in great Confu- 
sion, removing from the City, &c. Orders were issued that 
no Man, either Officer or Soldier, should be absent from 
Camp without leave in Wrighting from the Commander of 
the Regiment. 

S"*. More of the Ships are daily coming up ; some of the 
Enemy landed on Long Island Yesterday, but were repulsed. 

4. Went to the City in the forenoon. The Militia from 
all Parts are daily coming in ; many have arrived. This 
Morning our Brigade had liberty to fire each Man two 
Rounds of Cartridge at a mark ; we accordingly turned out 
and marched to a suitable Place. The first Fire was made 

singly, in which one of Cap* Hamblens Company in our 

Reg* accidentally lost his Life. He, thinking that his Piece 
had snaped, was taking it from his Face to cock it again 
when the Piece went off, kicked him in the Breast, which 
instantly killed him. 

5. Went on Guard at tlie Grand Battery. Capt. Wiley 



0- N- 



V 



56 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

of Col. M'^Doiigles Regt commanded the Guard ; he was a 
most agreeable Gentleman, & with him I spent the Time 
very agreeably. 

6 J Have the News of the United Colonies being Declared 
free & independent States by the Congress ; may they be 
able to support themselves free & Independent, and never 
again be brought under the Yoke of Bondage by Cunning & 
designing Men. 

— The whole Choir of our Officers, together with Col. Baldwin 
& the chief of his Officers, went to a Publick House to tes- 
tify our Joy at the happy news of Independence. We spent 
the afternoon merily in playing at Bowles for Wine;] I was 
by good fortune set clear of the whole Recconing. Before 
we departed an Accidental Misunderstanding happened, in 
which I gained the applause of each Individual. 

July 7, 1776, Sunday. Simeon Chubbuck, my waiter, is 
very ill of the Camp disorder. As our chief Dependance was 
on him for help, wee are in great confusion. It not being 
propper for the officers to leave the Camp, I did not, as usual, 
attend on Service till the afternoon. A Preacher, one Davids, 
came to hold forth for us under the Trees ; he preached from 
John 14 C. 6 v., — made out miserably in my opinion, tho he 
gave general satisfaction. 

The great Number of Prisoners confined in the Jail made 
it Necessary to keep a Strong Guard to keep them in due 
Subjection ; this guard had been kept for considerable Time. 
Serg* Sprague of our Company happening to be on this 
Guard, an Insurrection was made among the Prisoners, & 
one of them named Armstrong fired at the Lieu* of the 
Guard & was just about to kill the Sheriff of the City when 
Serg* Sprague shot him dead on the Spot, for which he was 
highly applauded. This calmed the Insurgents, & they 
were subdued. 



e 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 57 

July 8, 1776. Nothing material happened. 

9-. In the afternoon went to the City & engaged a Gen- 
tleman to teach a Number of us the French Language. Vis- 
ited Miss Betsy Grim & Lieu* Hayward. 

This afternoon the Declaration of the Independence of the 
13 American States was read to the Several Brigades. It 
was received with Joy, which they severally testified by three 
Cheers. 

10 -. Orders were Issued for our Brigade to be in readiness 
at 4 o'clock tomorrow Morning for a March. We all ima- 
gined that wee were designed to make an Attack upon the 
Enemy on Staten Island, but on farther consideration we 
had reason to doubt of it, as no particular Orders were Issued 
with Respect to our Bagage, which would be Necessary to 
take with us if this was the Intention of the General. 

Last Night the Statue on the Bowling Green representing 
George Ghwelph alias George Rex (described June 19-^) 
was pulled down by the Populace. In it were 4,000 Pounds 
of Lead, & a Man undertook to take of 10 oz of Gold from 
the Superficies, as both Man & Horse were covered with 
Gold Leaf. The Lead, we hear, is to be run up into Mus- 
quet Balls for the use of the Yankies, when it is hoped that 
the Emanations of the Leaden George will make as deep im- 
pressions in the Bodies of some of his red Coated & Torie 
Subjects, & that they will do the same execution in poison- 
ing & destrojdng them, as the superabundant Emanations 
of the Folly & pretended Goodness of the real George have 
made upon their Minds, which have effectually poisoned «& 
destroyed their Souls, that they are not worthy to be ranked 
with any Beings who have any Pretensions to the Principles 
of Virtue & Justice ; but would to God that the unhappy 
contest might be ended without puting us to the disagree- 
able Necessity of sending them to dwell with those beings 



v/ 



J 



58 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

for the Company of whom alone their Tempers & disposi- 
tions are now suitable. 

11*^. At 4 in the Morning (the usual time of taking our 
Alarm Posts) we appeared on the Parade, & were led by 
Gen' Heath & Brigade Major Henly to Reconnoiti-e the ad- 
jacent advantageous Posts, that we might be better acquainted 
with the Scituation of the ground and be able to take advan- 
tage thereof whenever we should be called to action. We 
marched to Turtle Bay, about 3 Miles, & in our March had 
several sham Engagements, &c. ; then returned to Camp 
about 11 o'clock, almost starved. 

In the afternoon I went to the Cit}^ to School. 

12. Went on Fatiegue at the Grand Battery. Several 
Deserters from the Enem}^ informed that it was the Inten- 
tion of the Enemy to have sent ^5 Ships up the N. River to 
stop the Water Communication between Albany & N. York. 
This was confirmed by the Circumstance of 4 Boats having 
come further up the Harbour Yesterday than common, as 
was supposed to sound the Bay. 

In the afternoon a fine Brieze arose at S. W., & tlie Tide 
being favourable at the same Time we soon discovered 2 Ships 
& 3 Tenders making for the Town, whereupon we repaired as 
soon as possible each one to their several alarm posts ; but be- 
fore I got from the City our Batteries began to play upon them. 
I stoped to observe them, but found that our Shot chiefly fell 
short of them, but saw several shot strike the larger Ship ; 
one Tender was obliged to put back. On my arrival at the 
Camp I found the Tents all struck, as the Enemy by seeing 
them might fire on the Camps ; however, they had knowl- 
edge of the place, & before I got ten Rods from it they had 
got abreast of the Incampment; but as they were under 
quick way their shots fell chiefly to the Northward, & many 
of them went over my head, & 3 or 4 struck within 20 Rods 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 59 

of me. The Reg! had gone to their Alarm Post. Before I 
got to the Alarm Post, being behind a hill, I discovered a Ball 
which had hit on the opposite side of the hill & was hoping 
over it. I saw that it was in a direction that would bring 
it very near my Waiter (Simeon Chubbuck), who was about 
5 or 6 Yards before me. I hallowed to him. He had just 
Time to discover & dodge it, but it passed him at not more 
than ^ Yard distance at the heighth of his Breast. Before 
this I was not in the least intimidated, but must confess that 
on seeing so narrow a chance of a Young Mans Life for 
whom I had a very great Regard, I had feelings different 
from what I before had. The Ball struck a Post in a fence 
on the opposite side of the Road, knocked it down, & then 
proceeded on its course. By the slow Motion which it had 
when I first discovered it I thought it would stop in a few 
Rods, but I immediately traced it for more than 20 Rods 
but could find nothing of it. I then proceeded to the Alarm 
Post ; Sim was so weak that he went but a little farther & 
returned to Camp. Before any of our Reg* (as they were but 
a small distance before me) arrived to our Alarm Post, the 
Ships had past it ; in their Way many Balls passed very 
near them, & one killed a Cow at a very small distance from 
them. This was the only Life which was taken away by 
their Cannon, but by the carelessness of our own Artilery '^ 
Men Six Men were killed with our own Cannon, & several 
others very badly wounded. 

It is said that several of the Company out of which they 
were killed were drunk, & neglected to Spunge, Worm, & 
stop the Vent, and the Cartridges took fire while they were 
raming them down. 

The Cannon from the City did but very little execution, 
as not more than half the Number of the Men belonging to \/ 
them were present. The others were at their Cups & at 



60 JOUKNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

their usual place of abode, Viz., on the Holy Ground ; but 
from Red Hooke, which was at a very great distance, they 
^ fired very well, & from Powles Hook they Hulled them 
several Times. What particular Dammage we did can't yet 
learn. They have gone up the River, but will be stoped 
about . . . Mile up by Fort Montgomery. After all this 
bustle, toward Night the Eagle, with Admiral Lord Howe on 
board, who had been several Days at the Hooke, came up & 
joined the other Ships at the Landing. 

I was very unwell all day ; am in some fear lest I shall 
have the Camp disorder, which is now frequent in this Camp. 

13. Not well ; staid in the Camp. 

Sunday, 14. Still unwell. Almost the whole Reg* are 
sick with the Camp Distemper ; our Reg* is by far the most 
sickly of the whole Brigade, & I dare say of the whole Army. 
My waiter [recrjuits a little. No Meeting this Day. A 
flag this Afternoon from the Enemy came up the River with 
a Letter from Genl Howe to Gen! Washington ; but as the 
Letter was directed to George Washington, Esq., they 
were sent back, & the Letter never opened nor received 
further than to read the superscription, when the Officer 
that went to wait on them returned it, telling them that he 
knew of no such Man at York. 

July 15, 1776. Cap* Allen & myself both warned for 
Guard. He drew Harrisons Brewery, & I drew the upper 
Barrack ; but as we were desirous to go together, I swaped 
with another officer. I saw Vauzile, our Pilot, when at 
Schuyler's Swamp; he brought compliments from Mr. 
Schuyler & Family, with an Invitation to visit him. I 
shall not lose the first opportunity of paying a visit to 
this excellent Family ; but as it is expected that we shall 
soon have an Attack, it will be with great difficulty if I get 
liberty. 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 61 

A second flagg came up this afternoon ; cannot learn the 
Buisness. 

16. The Guard came very late to relieve us ; in the After- 
noon our Colours & Standards were finished & brought home. 

Juli/ 17, 1776. Staid in Camp ; nothing remarkable. 

18. Lieut. Webb & Mr. Baker from Hianeas (Hyannis) 
came to visit me. I am greatly rejoiced to hear of the 
Welfare of our Friends at home, tho I hear but little in 
particular. 

I spend the afternoon very agreeably in reading a Voyage 
of Monsieur Viand, &c., &c. 

The State of New York have adopted the Resolves of the 
Congress respecting Independance, & made it Treason for any 
to conspire or Plot against the State. 

19. I was on Fatiegue in the City ; building a Barricado 
to Broadway & another Street runing west from St. Pauls 
Church. Every Street around the Common, on the side of 
which is the Laboratory, is to be barricadoed, & many of 
the Works are nearly finished. After Duty was over, I went 
in quest of Lieu* Webb & Mr. Bakers Vessell, but could find 
neither. Met with Lieu^ Hay ward, & with him took an 
opportunity to survey the Fire Ships, — the Chiver du 
frieze & Ships preparing to sink in the River. The Fire 
Ships are well constructed, and may do execution ; but the 
Chiver du frieze can be of little service, as it is too weakly 
constructed to do damage to a Vessell of any Strength. 

The ships preparing to be sunk will be of vast expence, & 
I am doubtfuU of their Success, as the Water in the Harbour 
where they will be of anj'^ service is very deep. Across 
these Ships are laid on each about 6 or 8 long Timbers 
pointed with Iron, to sink the ships when they shall run 
against them. The success of these must be left for time to 
determine. I took a view also of two rowe Gallies building 



l/ 



62 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

at the East End of the City. One of them is nearly ready 
for sailing ; the other is still on the Stocks almost finished. 
Each are to carry a 32 p"^ in the bow, besides small pieces in 
the sides ; they are neatly built, resembling much the In- 
gravings of the Turkish Gallies, & if properly managed, may 
serve greatly to annoy the Enemy's Fleet. Spent the Even- 
ing in a Tavern on Golden Hill, & returned to my tent about 
10 o'clock. 

20. Cap* Allen was ordered to take command of a party 
going to Kings Bridge, for 7 Days. I am the only Officer 
left with our Company. Several Flaggs came Yesterday & 
today from the Enemy, but no Dispatch was received, as the 
Gen} was resolute not to receive any letter respecting his 
publick character unless it was properly directed ; the officer 
said that Genl Howe regretted much that he had not arived 
a few Days sooner, as it might have saved great trouble if he 
had arived with the power he has vested in him before Inde- 
pendance was declared. 

At the desire of Gen! Howe verbally received. Gen! Wash- 
ington received the Adjutant Genl of the Ministerialists to an 
interview with him in the City, who brought the same letter 
from Gen! Howe that had before been offered him ; but 
Gen! Washington still continued resolute not to receive 
it, notwithstanding he was earnestly desired to do it by 
Adjt Genl. 

These behaved to each other with the greatest compli- 
sance ; & the Adjutant Gen\ after spending considerable 
time in Conference with Gen! Washington, in which he ever 
gave him the title of Your Excellency, was conducted to his 
Boat, attended by a number of the Officers, &c., of the 
Army. Tis said that at his departure he was overheard 
highly to the honour of our Noble General. 

In the afternoon had the Ace* of Gen^ Lee's having de- 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 63 

feated the Ministerialists at South Carolina, both by Sea & 
by Land under Gen. Clinton & Admiral Parker. The En- 
gagement by Sea lasted for 6 Hours, and was important, as 
the Ships came to an Anchor very nigh a large Fort ; the 
Fort did them great Dammage, destroyed a 36 Gun Ship, 
greatly damaged two capital Ships so that they are unfit for 
Service, killed great Numbers of the Men & drove them off. 
At the same time the Enemy's Land force were repulsed in 
endeavouring to Advance to attack the Rear of the fort 
while the Ships were playing upon them in front. The 
Enemy threw great Numbers of Shot at our fort from their 
Ships, and a large Number of Shells from a Bomb Ketch. 
The Bombs did little damage & the whole of our loss was no 
more than 10 killed & 22 wounded. The Gen' (Lee) ap- 
plauded his officers & Men in the highest Language for their 
good Conduct & bravery in the Action. 

July 21, Sunday. Turned out at break of day (as usual) 
to take the Alarm Post. The Men of our Company vyed 
with each other in good behaviour. This gave me the 
greater satisfaction, as this Company formed a Compleat Con- 
trast Avith the one that March before us & the one in our 
Rear (which, by the buy, are never well regulated, owing to 
the insensibility of the Officers). 

CoP Baily, having buisness of importance to transact at 
home, had a Furlough for 21 Days, & this day set off for N. 
England, An odd built Vessell, riged nearly like to a top- 
sail Shooner, called a Rowe Gallic, this day arrived from 
Connecticut. She carries two 18 pf in her Bow, besides 6 or 
8 six p''^ on the Gunwale. 'T is reported several others are 
coming from Rhode Island, &c., who have been sent for 
to harrass the ships now up the River. No meeting this 
Day. 

Monday, 22 July, 1776. Went to visit Lieu* Webb, &c. 



64 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

Went on board Mr. Bakers vessell, in which was Cajj" 
Prince Ghorham. 

23** Went on Fatiegue at St. Pauls Church for about an 
hour, then was sent for with my Party to go on board the 
Ships preparing to be sunk. Dined, according to engage- 
ment, with Mr. O Dougald & Monsieur Perry, Gentlemen 
of my acquaintance in the City. Saw the infamous Pro- 
clamation issued by Lord Howe & now made publick by 
order of the Congress, offering Pardon to those in an}'- of 
the Colonies who will return to their Duty & acknowledge 
the Supremacy of Parliament. Lord Howe declares that 
he hath this power vested in him by Act of Parliament, & 
these are the Terms of accomodation offered by the English. 
But will Americans tamely submit to those merciless Tyrants 
who have already done their utmost to reduce them to a 
state of abject slavery? and will they acknowledge? What 
can they acknowledge ? but that they have bravely stood 
forth in defence of those Rights & Priviledges which the 
God of Nature hath bestowed upon them, & which they may 
not give up (unless unable to support them) without affront- 
ing that being who delights in the Liberty & prosperity of 
all his Creatures ? 

24. Am a little unwell, yet I went to the City to carry 
a Letter which I had wrote to my Brother Joshua. Sent 
it by Mr. Baker. Saw Lieu* Webb, who informed me of a 
Letter which was directed for me on board a Nantuckett 
vessell ; but as Mr. Bailey was not on board I could not ob- 
tain it. Our Company are now about | of them very low 
with the Camp Disorder, or Bloody Flux, which is very 
prevalent throughout the whole Army, & though it Ema- 
ciates them verj^ much yet is not very mortal, as not more 
than one in our Reg* has died with this disorder. I being 
some unwell with the above disorder have much trouble 



JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 65 

& difficulty to see that the Sick are properly taken care 
of. 

July 25. I am tolerably comfortable, though something 
weak. In the Evening I went to the City for my Letter, 
being very anxious to hear from my Friends, but could not 
obtain it, Mr. Bailey not being on board. 

26. In the Morning a Report prevailed that the Ships up 
the River were coming down ; but it proved only that they 
came down in order to take a Parcel of Sheep & a Quan- 
tity of Butter which the Tories had collected, & according 
to agreement the Ships were to meet them & take it off; 
but before the Ships arrived the Sheep & Butter together 
with several other small Articles were discovered, & as no 
owner appeared to lay claim to them they were secured. 
These Tories cannot yet be quelled, notwithstanding (as I 
am credibly informed) a large number (300) of them who 
had collected together a few days before the Ships went up 
were taken, & upon examination they confessed that by 
agreement with the infamous Wallace (the commander of 
one of the Ships) they were to assemble, destroy tlie 2 large 
Frigates which are building up the River, & Wallace was to 
support them with a Party sufficient for them to beat down 
all opposition while they could pillage the Country round 
about, & then, as I suppose, they were to retreat on board. 
Upon this the more ignorant Vulgar, who it appeared had 
been drawn into this Confederacy by tlie artfull persuasions 
of others worse abandoned than themselves, were dismissed 
under proper Restrictions; but the worst of them were some 
sent to the Mines in New England ; others were sent to close 
confinement. 

In the Evening Lieu* Sears came home, & brought 4 Men, 
who appeared to be Gentlemen, whom he had taken the 
Night before in endeavouring to make their escape on board 



66 JOURNAL OF LIEUTENANT ISAAC BANGS. 

the Men of War. Himself, as also the others that were in 
the Whale Boats, had taken a considerable Number of the 
Tories at different times endeavouring to make their Escape, 
& had delivered them to the Committee of the Town ; but 
they had frequently dismissed them upon their Paroles, & 
in a short Time would make their escape, being more luckey 
than at first. Being disgusted with the proceedings of the 
Committee, whom he also suspected of Tor3asm, he deter- 
mined & accordingly brought them to the Gen^ 

Joseph Egerton & Joseph Snell, two of our Company, 
the former the Cap*^ Clerk, were taken ill on the 21 Instant ; 
& as they were now not fit to remain in tents, having a 
strong Fever, I carried to an uninhabited House, a small 
back room of which with much difficulty I had obtained 
for them, & appointed a Nurse from the Company, 

I am still unwell with the Camp Disorder, but I have it 
very lightly. 

Called for guard tomorrow, but excused on ace* of my 
illness. 

27. Not being able for Guard, I inspected the Camp & 
Hospital. Rec*^ a Letter from my Mother, dated June 16. 

28. Sunday. Being unable to attend Service, I tarried in 
Camp. A Number of our Rowe Gallies went up the River. 

29. Rode to the City. Went on b"^ a Nantucket Vessell 
in which my Letter came. Found that Prince Ghorham & 
Baker, by whom I had sent a Letter to my Brother, had not 
gone, as Bakers Vessell was taken for a Fire Vessell ; but 
as they were going in this Vessell I let it pass. After spend- 
ing considerable Time very agreeably, return'^. Visited Eger- 
ton & Snell ; found them very ill. 

By the Paper had the News of 

Cetera desunt. 



t#C. 



INDEX. 



AiR-FuRNACE, excellent field-pieces 
and iron cannon cast by, 31, 32. 

Allen, Capt. Jacob, mentioned, 7, 21, 
31 ; warned for guard, 60 ; ordered 
to take command of a party, 62. 

American Forces, drive the British 
from their strongholds in Boston, 
8-13 ; ordered to bombard Boston, 
9 ; hardships of that part of, sta- 
tioned at Roxbury, 15-17 ; guard 
Boston Harbor, 19 ; ordered to the 
southward, 19 ; line of march of, 
20-24 ; regiments sent to reinforce 
the army at Canada, 27, 31 ; fortify 
Governor's Island, 28 ; arrangement 
of brigades of, 29, 31; part of, 
ordered on a private expedition, 45, 
46 ; under General Lee defeat the 
British at South Carolina, 63; 
affected by the Camp Disorder, 64. 

Army, Ministerial, invested by Ameri- 
ican army, 8 ; closely confined in 
their quarters in Boston, 8; driven 
from their fortresses, 8-13 ; condi- 
tion of intrenchments of, 13, 14 ; 
retreat to Nantasket, 14 ; destroy 
tlieir ammunition, 13, 14 ; scarcity 
of provisions of, 15; set the Block 
House on fire, 18 ; demolish and 
leave Castle William, 18; leave 
Nantasket, 19; cause of delay of the 
fleet of, 19 ; method of enforcing 
measures,' 32 ; reinforced, make a 
sully on Quebec, 35; stationed on 
Staten Island, 57 ; attempt to stop 
water communication between Al- 
bany and New York, 58-60 ; send 
Adjutant-General to George Wasli- 



ington, 62 ; defeated by 
Lee at South Carolina, 63. 



General 



Bailey, Col. John, mentioned, 7 ; 
granted a furlough, 63. 

Baker, Mr., visits Lieutenant Bangs, 
61 ; letter sent by, 64 ; vessel of, 
taken for a fire-vessel, 66. 

Bangs, Lieut. Isaac, pedigree of, 3 ; 
at Harvard, 4 ; studies and prac- 
tises medicine, ''5 ; mentioned in 
Revolutionary Rolls, 5; last record 
of, 5 ; record of death of, 6 ; 
thinks it advisible to keep some 
minutes, 7; enlists among tlie mili- 
tia, 8 ; narrowly escapes being shot, 
11; suffers from exposure, 12, 16; 
surprised at construction of British 
works, 14 ; goes to Concord, 16 ; 
mounts guard, 17, — at Harrison's 
Brewery, 30, at North River, 43, at 
Grand Battery, 55, upper Barrack, 
60 ; watches firing of the Block 
House, 18 ; goes to see the ruins, 18 ; 
invited to succeed Lieutenant vShaw, 
20; applies to General Washington 
for a commission, 20 ; follows and 
overtakes the regiment, 21 ; break- 
fasts with the Atvvoods, 21 ; des- 
cribes Providence, 21 ; sails for New 
York, 23 ; describes New York, 2.3- 
25 ; interested in the water-works of 
Brooklyn, 25-27 ; attends a Dutch 
church, 28. — prefers it to the Congre- 
gational, 30, 31 ; goes upon fatigue 
duty, 31, 42,44, 61, 64 ; visits Messrs. 
McPherlin and Love, 31 ; examines 
air-furnace, 31 ; is lucky at Bil- 



68 



INDEX. 



liards, 32 ; surveys the gaol, 32 ; 
attends service, 82, 44 ; has news of 
England's resolutions to enforce her 
measures, 32 ; criticises the move- 
ment, 33 ; announces America's in- 
tention to declare herself free and 
independent, 33 ; visits an agreeable 
young lady, 33, 34 ; is not well, 34, 
35, 36 ; writes letters home, 34, 36 ; 
afflicted with boils, 35 ; calls upon 
Miss Grim, 36, 37 ; read's Hervey's 
Meditations, 37 ; does picket dutj', 
37, 39, 44 ; works upon a fort, 37 ; 
acceptance of Lieutenant's commis- 
sion by, criticised, 38 ; defends him- 
self, 39 ; visits Dr. "Warren, 40, 43 ; 
visits a Jewish Synagogue, 41, 42 ; 
is visited by William Stone and 
Lieutenant Hay ward, 42 ; rejoices 
that his friends are well, 42, 61 ; 
meets Dr. Curtis, 42 ; visited by 
Drs. Townshend and Eustis, 43 ; 
has many friends, 43 ; sends letter 
by William Stone, 44 ; is member 
of Court Martial, 44; visits and is 
visited by Captain Beard, 44, 45 ; is 
ordered on a private expedition, 45; 
sent to cut cedar wood logs, meets 
Mr. Schuyler, 47 ; visits Mr. Schuy- 
ler's copper mines, 47 ; exchanges 
visits with Mr. Schuyler, 47, 48, 49 ; 
returns to New York, 50; his im- 
pression of the Schuyler family, 50- 
54 ; receives a generous offer of in- 
noculation, 54 ; attends a German 
church and a Quaker meeting, 54 ; 
calls upon some young ladies, 55 ; 
takes the Alarm Post, 55, 63 ; goes 
to the city, 55 ; spends some time 
with Captain Wiley, 56 ; rejoices at 
the news of independence, 56 ; is 
ordered to march, 57 ; is alarmed 
at his waiter's narrow escape, 59 ; 
affected with the Camp Disorder, 
60, 64, 66; receives an invitation 
from Mr. Schuyler, 60; describes the 
fire-ships, 61, those to be sunk, 61, 
62 ; only officer left with the com- 
pany, 62 ; hears of General Lee's 
victory, 63 ; describes a Kowe gal- 



ley, 63 ; calls on Lieutenant Webb, 
63 ; dines with Messrs. O'Dougald 
and Perry, 64 ; sees Lord Howe's 
Proclamation, 64 ; attends to two of 
the company who are ill, G6 ; ex- 
cused from guard on account of 
illness, 66 ; receives a letter, 66. 

Battle of Bunker Hill, alluded to, 44. 

Beard, Captain, exchanges visits with 
Bangs, 45. 

Bolster, Captain, commands the guard, 
34. 

Boston Massacre, alluded to, 12. ^ 2_ 

Brooks, Hon. Nathan, mentioned, 3S),n. 

Brookes, Major, sets off on a private 
expedition, 45. 

Brooklyn, description of water-works 
of, 25-27. 

Bryant, Ensign, accompanies Lieuten- 
ant Bangs to Jewish Synagogue, 
40. 

Camp Disorder, Lieutenant Bangs's 
waiter ill of, 56 ; affects nearly the 
whole regiment, 60 ; effects of, 64 ; 
Lieutenant Bangs slightly affected 
by, 64. 

Carj', Colonel, Lieutenant Bangs serves 
under, 7 ; mentioned, 20. 

Counter-sign, to be given only to col- 
onels and officers of guards, 55. 

Chubbuck, Simeon, waiter to Lieuten- 
ant Bangs, 56 ; is ill, 56 ; narrowly 
escapes being shot, 59. 

Church, Dutch, service of, 28. 

Committee of Safety, bring the Tories 
to terms, 36. 

Curtis, Dr., meets Lieutenant Bangs, 
-**-/-/ 2_ 

Declaration of Independence read to 

the soldiers, 57 ; received with joy, 

57. , 

Doane, Elisha, mentioned, 17. ^ 2_ 

Downs, Capt.Shubael, mentioned,!^, n. 

" Eagle " the, joins the other ships, 60 
Election, general, at Boston, 37. 
Eustis, Dr., mentioned, 28, 40; visits 
Lieutenant Bangs, 43. 



INDEX. 



69 



Fire-ships, examined, 61 ; description 
of, 62. 

Galley, Rowe, description of a, 63. 

Gaol, New Yorlc, description of, 32. 

Gates, Adjutant-General, promises 
Lieutenant Bangs a commission, 20. 

" Glasgow," the, engages in battle with 
a brig commanded b}' Admiral Hop- 
kins's son, 22 ; has a warm engage- 
ment with the Admiral's ship " Al- 
fred," 22 ; makes a running fight, 
22 ; much shattered, 23. 

Godfrey, Capt. Benjamin, Lieutenant 
Bangs serves under, 7. 

Gorham, Capt. Prince, mentioned, 64, 
66. 

Governor's Island, position of, 28 ; 
Colonel Prescott's regiment stationed 
on, 39. 

Green, — , deserter, retained to give 
evidence, 50. 

Green, General, brigade of, ordered to 
New London, 20 ; ordered to Long 
Island, 3L 

Groton, mentioned, 2L 

Harvard College, Lieutenant Bangs 
at, 4 ; loyalists of the class of 1771, 4. 

Hay ward. Lieutenant, spoken of, 34, 
38 ; visits Fort Montgomery, 40 ; 
calls on Lieutenant Bangs in camp, 
42 ; spends an evening on Captain 
Beard's vessel, 45 ; inspects the fire- 
ships, 61. 

Heatli, General, mentioned, 29, 40, 
58. 

Hickey, Thomas, executed for joining 
in a plot against General Washing- 
ton, 50. 4 2.- 

Hoar, Hon. E. R., mentioned,~98, n. 

Holy Ground, the description of, 29, 30 ; 
mentioned, 60. 

Hopkins, Admiral, in command of part 
of the American fleet, 22 ; took pos- 
session of King's forts, 22 ; captured 
several vessels in the West Indies, 
22; comes to the assistance of his 
son and engages with the " Glas- 
gow," 22. 



Howe, Lord, Admiral, intends to attack 
New York, 44 ; joins his ships, 60 ; 
sends letter to General Washington, 
60 ; regrets his late arrival, 62 ; 
sends Adjutant-General to see Gen- 
eral Washington, 62 ; Proclamation 
of, 64. 

Hutchinson House, Lieutenant Bangs's 
company barracked in outhouse of, 
10. 

Insurrection, among the prisoners, 
56. 

Jacobs, Lieutenant-Colonel, accom- 
panies Lieutenant Bangs to Cam- 
bridge, 20. 

King George Third, Statue of, 
described, 25 ; destro3'ed by the 
populace, 57 ; lead of, to be made 
into musket-balls, 57. 

Learned, Colonel, regiment of, ordered 
upon the hills, 17. 

Lee, General, defeats the British at 
South Carolina, 63, — length of en- 
gagement at sea, 63 ; damages done 
by the fort, 63. 

Loring, Benjamin, information con- 
cerning, 43. 

Lovell, James, taken prisoner by the 
British, 14. 

Makepeace, Lieutenant, mentioned, 

46, 48, 49. 
Mayo, Lieutenant, wounded, 11. 
Merry, Captain, captured a British 

vessel, 19. 
Militia, Lieutenant Bangs enlists 

among, 8 ; General Washington 

calls for, 8 ; coming to New York, 

55. 
Mugford, Captain, loses his life, 36. 

Nantasket, British retreat to, 14. 

New London, described, 21. 

New York, description of, 23-25 ; gaol 
of, 32; intended attack of Lord 
Howe upon, 44 ; State of, adopt the 



70 



INDEX. 



Resolves of Congress respecting inde- 
pendence, 61. 
Nook Point, advantageously situated, 
12, 13, 14. 

Parker, Lieutenant, mentioned, 28. 
Philips, Joseph, mentioned, 17. 
Providence, Town of, described, 21. 

Revolutionary Rolls, extracts from, 

5. 
Roebuck, British man-of-war, attacked 

by our galleys, 35. 

Schuyler, Mr., visited by Lieutenant 
Bangs, 47 ; copper mines of, des- 
cribed, 47 ; exchanges visits with 
Lieutenant Bangs, 48, 49 ; lends 
Lieutenant Bangs a horse, 50 ; Lieu- 
tenant Bangs's opinion of the family 
of, 50-52 ; house of, described, 62, 
53 ; ancestry of, 53 ; friendship of, 
for Lieutenant Bangs, 54 ; sends 
invitation to Lieutenant Bangs, 60. 

Sears, Lieutenant, captures four men 
from a man-of-war, 66. 

Shaw, Lieutenant, comes from New 
England to visit friends, 39 ; brings 
letters to the soldiers, 39. 

Ships, Fire. See Fire-ships. 

Ships, to be sunk, 61 ; description of, 
62. 

Stone, William, visits Lieutenant Bangs 
in camp and brings a letter from 
Lieutenant Bangs's mother, 42 ; car- 
ries reply to her, 44. 

Synagogue, Jewish, description of, 41 ; 
Priest of, 41 ; description of service 
in, 41, 42. 



Thames River, an excellent harbor, 

21. 
Tories, brought to terms, 36 ; plot of, 

65; punishments of, 65. 
Townshend, Dr., spoken of, 43. 
Tudor, Judge-Advocate, mentioned, 40. 
Turtle Bay, described, 23 ; troops march 

to, 58. 

United Colonies, declared free and 
independent, 56. 

Warren, Dr., Lieutenant Bangs dines 
with, 40. 

Washington, Gen. George, calls for 
militia, 8; orders a bombardment of 
Boston, 9 ; orders the forces back to 
the lines, 10 ; orders six regiments to 
Albany, 31 ; goes to Philadelphia, 
40 ; thanks Lieutenant Bangs's regi- 
ment, 40 ; a plot against, 48 ; rejects 
a letter from Lord Howe, 60, 62 ; 
receives the British Adjutant-Gen- 
eral, 62 ; is spoken liighly of by the 
Adjutant-General, 62. 

Webb, Lieutenant, letter written for, 
37 ; visits Lieutenant Bangs, 61 ; 
receives a call from Lieutenant 
Bangs, 63 ; tells of letter to Lieuten- 
ant Bangs on board a Nantucket 
steamer, 64. 

Wheeler, Lieutenant, mentioned, 45, 
49 ; goes to New York, 48. 

Whipple, Captain, in command of the 
" Columbus, "22; his failure to come 
to the assistance of the " Alfred " 
and the brig, criticised, 22. 

Wiley, Captain, spoken of, 55, 56. 



H 33 89 '1 



NOV 9 1900 



^WW^Wil. ■■■■'..■ 



